Current responses /

Jamaica

Hurricane response

Restoring homes, livelihoods and community spaces across southern Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.

Participants in GER³’s cash-for-work program clear hurricane debris from a property in southern Jamaica. Photo: John McBean/GER³

Recovery continues
Communities are still recovering from Hurricane Melissa. Help GER³ deliver urgent support.

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Overview

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025 as a Category 5 storm, causing severe damage to homes, community facilities and livelihoods across the south and west of the island. GER³ deployed immediately, working with local partners and residents to clear debris, reopen access and support affected fishermen and small businesses. We have since expanded that initial response into a longer-term recovery program in St. Elizabeth Parish, focused on repairing damaged homes, providing shelter assistance and helping communities prepare for future hurricanes. Working alongside local residents, our teams are combining practical recovery support with technical guidance and community-based preparedness so families can rebuild more safely and with greater resilience.

General focus areas

Safe homes and shelter

We’re helping families return to safer, more secure homes through targeted repairs and practical shelter support. Households are selected through assessments that prioritize people who face the greatest barriers to rebuilding on their own, alongside the distribution of shelter kits and vouchers for families still working toward recovery.

Restoring communities

Clearing debris is an important first step in helping communities get moving again. Working with local residents, GER³ has cleared damaged areas, reopened access and supported the recovery of shared spaces across communities in St. Elizabeth, creating the conditions for repair and rebuilding to continue.

Livelihoods and local recovery

Recovery also means helping people get back to work. Through cash-for-work activities and targeted support to local fishermen and small businesses, GER³ has helped residents earn income while taking an active role in restoring their own communities.

Preparedness for future storms

We’re pairing physical recovery with practical knowledge that can help households prepare for the future. Through technical shelter awareness and safer-rebuilding guidance, GER³ is helping thousands of families understand how they can strengthen their homes and reduce risk ahead of future hurricanes.