As the third strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 28 as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane.
As Melissa slowly moved north, dumping massive amounts of rain and reaching maximum winds of 185 mph, it set its sights on Cuba making its second landfall there as a Category 3. Continuing on its destructive path, Melissa pursued the Bahamas as its next target, and on Oct. 30, it passed Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane.
Melissa’s devastating path unleashed heavy, torrential rainfall, strong winds, and mass destruction across the shores of Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Bahamas.
Hurricane Melissa had devastating impacts on Jamaica in particular. In the days after landfall, over 25,000 people packed into shelters because their homes were destroyed in the storm. More than 77% of the people living in Jamaica’s parishes had no power after landfall. As of Nov. 11, less than 40% of customers continued to be without power and, according to the Jamaica Information Service, the official death toll in Jamaica had reached 45 people, with more still missing.
Millions of people across the affected areas were displaced, leaving them susceptible to food and water insecurity. In the wake of this mass destruction, UNICEF and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have once again stepped up to support vulnerable families and children through emergency preparedness and response efforts.
In order to help support the effort, monetary donations are greatly encouraged.
While post-storm relief services are currently on the ground in the devastated nations, this is not the type of situation that goes away overnight. The Sacred Heart goals, especially Goal III, call upon each student to step into action and do what they can to alleviate the impacts of this natural disaster, and many members of the Carrollton student body have sought ways to help.
“As humans and as Catholics, we are responsible to help because…we know there are people struggling,” said Catalina Gorodo ‘28.
On Nov. 20, Carrollton had a $5 One Love dress down fundraiser for Upper and Lower School to raise money for the communities in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Carrollton also hosted a food sale during lunch for the high school students and teachers on Nov. 21 to raise money for further hurricane relief efforts.
Gorodo is grateful for these opportunities to support the Caribbean through monetary donations, but she also encouraged students to help create a “drive for hygiene products, food, or clothes” to help affected families get back on their feet.
Above all, Carrollton students are raising awareness for the tragedy Hurricane Melissa caused. “It is important to support everyone because they have just been through a really catastrophic event, and it should be our duty as a community to help them in any way possible,” said Carolina Grabiel ‘28.
