Jamaica Dey Homeless Afta Hurricane Melissa

For di north coast parish of St. Ann, almost all people dey without power and plenty of dem wake up no get roof again afta Hurricane Melissa tear through Jamaica, down tree, utility pole and anything wey dey road. Fisherman George “Larry” Brown from Priory talk say di morning calm small, “Just small rain,” e recall. But by 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) di rain and wind come heavy, and before e know am, e roof just start peel off. E describe Melissa as di worst hurricane e don ever see, wey hit di country wit wind of 185 miles per hour and heavy rain. Brown even talk say, “Gilbert no fit match dis one,” while neighbor Kayan Davis, mama of three, talk say her roof lift afta 11:00 pm (0400 GMT) and she don dey temporarily homeless. Marvin Thomas sef suffer wen tree fall for im house around 8:00 pm (0100 GMT), and e had to run go friend house, talk say money go hard to start rebuild.

Di wahala no stop for St. Ann alone, Trelawny sef get plenty damage. Sandra Scott from Salt Marsh talk say water rise high, roof membrane blow comot and fence damage. Dem use sandbags and sheets try stop water enter. Infrastructure everywhere scatter, William Knibb High School, Usain Bolt old school, damage. Police chief Velonique Campbell and 30 officers dey clear road with machete and chainsaw make way for aid. For Bog Walk, bar owner Maureen Samuels happy say big tree no fall her bar, but some properties, including friend hog farm, dey badly affect as Rio Cobre overflow. People everywhere dey face heavy wahala afta Hurricane Melissa.