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(CNS): Jamaican’s woke up to horrendous damage, Wednesday, after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island with devastating impact Tuesday. Huge parts of the country are without power or communication services and cut off due to blocked and lost roads, flooding is still wide spread after huge amounts of rain and storm surge. Early estimates put the damage at well over CI$10billion and the loss of life has not yet been counted. Around the world, including here in the Cayman Islands, the Jamaican diaspora is already mobilizing to help with what is going to be a long road to recovery. With winds of around 185mph and much higher gusts blasting the island for hours following the biggest hurricane to ever hit the island, people have described the situation on social media as terrifying and apocalyptic. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a “disaster area” late Tuesday given the significant damage to hospitals, homes, businesses and all infrastructure. After flattening Jamaica, the hurricane continued its path of destruction tearing through eastern Cuba last night and this morning. Melissa is now heading towards the Bahamas. At first light on Wednesday residents in southwestern costal towns in Jamaica which took the worst Mellissa had to offer were confronted with their ruined communities not just from the wind and rain but a storm surge of upto 13feet. The town of Black River, where Melissa made landfall was one of the places where first responders were went in search of survivors. At this point officials estimate more than 400,000 people have been directly impacted by the hurricane. The Jamaican Government has launched a website to mobilise support, channel relief and coordinate recovery. The Support Jamaica website, which is an online platform, at supportjamaica.gov.jm. Dana Morris Dixon, the minister of information said the government was already aware some “nefarious individuals” trying to raise cash as she explained the need for an official site and how to safely donate and give pledges. It will also enable people to post details of damage in their areas. “If there is an issue that you see in your area and you want to upload a picture, maybe there is flooding, or a town that has been cut off, you can actually notify us through that website,” she said, adding that it also has an interactive shelter locator. “It is all about mobilising resources, so it’s a resource for those locally, for those in the diaspora and anywhere in the world that want to give support to Jamaica,” Morris Dixon added. Here in Cayman the local branch of the Red Cross (CIRC) is launching a monetary donation appeal for thevictims of Hurricane Melissa. “As footage of the devastation begins to roll in, we know that Jamaicans who live here, as well as Caymanians and other residents with and without ties to our neighbour are keen to assist,” said the director Jondo Obi, Director of the CIRC. “The CIRC has been liaising with the Jamaican Red Cross, as well as the Cayman Islands Government and other key partners, to ensure that we lead a coordinated effort that help meet the needs of the most vulnerable, while respecting their dignity.” She explained that what is needed in the immediate wake of a catastrophe can be quite different than what is needed two weeks or two months later. “Response workers, government officials and volunteers will have their hands full over the comingweeks and months, and one of the things that we would like to avoid is making their task more difficult by sending unsolicited donations,” Obi said. Dani Coleman, Director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands said such unsolicited donations are known as the second disaster, or the disaster within a disaster, because they happen so often after major catastrophes. “We have seen their impact in the region time and time again, in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch, in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, in the Bahamas after the passing of Dorian, and to some degree even here at home after Hurricane Ivan.” As a result the focus at the moment is on raising cash. Members of the public who wish to host fundraising events are asked to contact the Red Cross to collaborate. The non-profit will provide the public with more specific information on the needs of the impacted communities once the assessments have been completed by their partners on the ground in Jamaica. For more information contact +1 (345) 916-3345. To donate to the Hurricane Melissa appeal – BANK INFO: Cayman Islands Red Cross International Emergency Appeals A/C number: 136-035054-0060, Butterfield Bank.
