Building Back Jamaica Strong: How the U.S. Diaspora Is Rallying After Hurricane Melissa -

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa — one of the most powerful storms ever to hit Jamaica — Jamaicans.com hosted a live discussion titled “Building Back Jamaica Strong: Diaspora in Action – USA & Canada,” as part of our mission to ensure that the most accurate information is being shared to inspire confidence and encourage support.

Addressing the troubling spread of misinformation and disinformation at the top of the programme, Jamaicans.com founder Xavier Murphy warned that it can undermine the collective response and slow recovery efforts.

“We’ve seen a flood of false information — fake donation links, AI-generated images, and rumours that create confusion,” Murphy said. “When people lose trust in what’s real, they stop giving, and that delays the help our people desperately need. We want Jamaicans.com to be a space where verified, factual updates guide how we respond.”

This special broadcast brought together Consul Generals, High Commissioners, and Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) representatives to provide direct from source information and updates on relief efforts across the United States and Canada.

In this feature, we focus on how the U.S. diaspora has mobilised — from Florida to the Midwest — to support recovery efforts at home.

A Historic Storm and a Diaspora on Alert

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with unprecedented force, leaving an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 people displaced or without access to water, electricity, or communication. More than 30 lives have been lost, and six western parishes — Trelawny, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and Manchester — bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. The scale of the disaster is immense, with early damage estimates at US $6 billion to $7 billion.

“We have more people in need than the aid that we have,” said Marlon Hill, host of the live broadcast. “The urgency is high… this is not reality television. People’s actual lives have been devastated.”

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A post shared by Consul General Oliver Mair (@mairoliver)

Southern United States: All Hands on Deck

From his base in South Florida, Consul General Oliver Mair has been coordinating a network of more than 50 drop-off points across states including Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and the Carolinas.

“The community has been very supportive,” he said. “Within three days, we had 50 drop-off points. These relationships didn’t happen yesterday — they’re the result of years of trust.”

Supplies collected are being shipped through Food For The Poor and the Global Empowerment Mission, two long-standing humanitarian partners.

Mair outlined three main ways for Jamaicans in the U.S. to help:

Volunteer with Food For The Poor or Global Empowerment Mission.

Donate relief items via the established drop-off points.

Contribute funds directly through the verified government website — supportjamaica.gov.jm — or trusted organisations such as the American Friends of Jamaica, and World Central Kitchen.

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Looking beyond immediate relief, the diaspora is turning to cultural events to sustain awareness and raise funds. Consul General Oliver Mair announced the Hurricane Melissa Benefit Concert, scheduled for Friday, 6 December 2025, featuring gospel artiste Bishop Fernandez. The event will serve both as a fundraiser and a moment of collective gratitude.

“In everything, give thanks,” Mair said. “It will be a time to thank God and to thank the community for rallying together. This is not a sprint — it’s a marathon — and we must pace ourselves but keep moving briskly.”

Mair also urged patience and solidarity.

“We have to put politics aside,” he said. “Let us put love first and foremost and allow love to lead us as a community. This is not a 100-metre sprint. It’s going to be a long-term run.”

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Central Florida: Keeping Momentum Alive

In Central Florida, Peter Gracey, the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council representative for the Southern U.S.A, has spearheaded a coordinated effort to educate donors and streamline shipments.

“We’ve created about 20 drop-off points,” he explained. “A lot of people want to send barrels but don’t know what’s allowed or needed. We’ve been doing ‘Shipping 101’ sessions to make sure space is used for essentials — not TVs.”

Gracey has also been working with attorneys and advocates to push for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Jamaicans in the U.S. who cannot safely return home. But his greater focus, he said, is sustainability:

“What happens after the headlines fade? We have to sustain this momentum for years, not weeks. Next year brings another hurricane season — so we must keep going.”

Western and Midwestern States: A Personal Mission

For Shauna Chin, the GJDC representative for the West and Midwest, the disaster struck close to home. Her family’s house in Montego Bay was among those damaged, and she didn’t hear from her elderly aunt for days.

“By the time I got off the phone, we just bawled,” she said. “It was overwhelming just to hear her voice.”

Chin described how Jamaicans across 23 states are mobilising through partnerships with organisations such as Midwest Mission, Direct Relief, Team Rubicon, and Convoy of Hope, with Uber providing free rides for volunteers transporting supplies. The most urgent needs, she said, are water, food, and power banks — along with safety for small businesses in storm-ravaged areas.

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Northeast: Churches, Hotlines and Amazon Lists

Across New York and the wider Northeast, community associations have transformed churches into collection hubs, with the Jamaican Consulate partnering with clergy to raise funds and gather relief supplies. Several drop-off locations have been set up across the city, including at local NYPD precincts, which have joined the effort.

The Consulate is also helping to reconnect families separated by the storm. Christopher Benjamin, Community Relations Officer at the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York, said calls for assistance began even before Hurricane Melissa made landfall. As a result, the Consulate has re-established the emergency hotline first created during Hurricane Beryl to help families locate loved ones in affected areas.

“We set up a hotline for people who couldn’t reach family members,” he said. “If they share a last known address, we forward it to the Jamaica Constabulary Force so officers can check in person.”

The hotline (1-888-817-9050) operates daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, with updates on congenjamaica-ny.org.
Benjamin also highlighted an Amazon relief list based on the official ODPEM needs list, allowing supporters to send items directly to the Consulate for shipment to Jamaica.

**_{Jamaica Diaspora USA Northeast on Facebook}**

Philadelphia

Churches and community organisations have taken the lead in rallying support for Jamaica’s recovery. Michelle Tulloch-Neil, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) representative for the Northeast, says the outpouring of goodwill began even before Hurricane Melissa made landfall.

“People were anticipating, and before you knew it, the calls started flooding in,” she explained. “The churches were offering their spaces before I even asked — everyone just wanted to know how they could help.”

Tulloch-Neil, who is based in Philadelphia, has been coordinating closely with the Consulate General in New York and Honorary Consul Chris Chaplain to direct volunteers and manage donations. She maintains an active database of drop-off locations across New Jersey, Boston, and Pennsylvania, updating it daily as new partners come on board.

She also makes a point of visiting churches and collection centres to personally thank volunteers, noting that the response has been driven by faith, unity, and compassion.

“It wasn’t so much people asking how to help — it was them telling me what they were already doing,” she said. “One church called to say, ‘We already have three barrels ready for you.’ It’s been incredible — everyone, from pastors to young people, is coming together for Jamaica.”

Ensuring Transparency and Accountability

Amid widespread misinformation online, the U.S. diaspora’s relief network is determined to ensure that every item and dollar reaches the people who need it most.

Mair confirmed that all official contributions are being tracked through the government’s supportjamaica.gov.jm portal and through approved charities. “Prime Minister Andrew Holness has emphasised accountability,” he said. “We want that right across the board — but we also need speed. People need help now.”

Christopher Benjamin, added that donated items are being logged, documented, and shipped in collaboration with vetted freight companies. “We have a full tracking system for the relief items being sent through our official appeal,” he said. “That ensures transparency and allows us to report back to the community on our collective impact.”

**_{Caribbean Strong volunteers at GEM Warehouse}**_, **_{photo courtesy of Marlon Hill}**

A Call for Unity — and Continued Support

Across every U.S. region, the message remains the same: Jamaicans abroad must stay united, accountable, and active.

“You have the power to make a difference,” Mair reminded viewers. “You might think it’s just ten dollars — but you know what ten dollars can do in Jamaica for somebody who has nothing?”

Jamaicans.com will continue hosting live conversations with representatives, and community leaders across the globe to share verified updates on Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.

If you’re part of an NGO, government agency, business, or community organisation coordinating relief and would like to get your message to the diaspora, email us at info@jamaicans.com.

We’ll gladly share your verified updates across our platforms — because rebuilding Jamaica is a global effort.