International students speak of effects of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean
- Ty Davidson
- Nov 13, 2025
- 3 min read
A category 5 hurricane made its way through the Caribbean at the end of last month, leaving the people of the islands struggling to survive, and leaving Troy students from those islands scared for the safety of their homes and families.
Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica the hardest, leaving at least 32 people dead, almost 36,000 people in urgent need of food, entire islands without electricity – of which close to 30 communities remain without power – and over 100,000 homes destroyed, according to UN News. This mass destruction has left Troy students from Jamaica fearing for the lives and wellbeing of their friends and family back home.
“Personally, I haven’t really been affected, but I was more so worried about my family and friends and the people without any food or shelter,” said Jermaine Nelson, a junior business management major from Sandy Bay Hanover, Jamaica. “I know a few childhood friends that lost their homes alongside a few of the elders that watched me grow up.”
Another student shared similar feelings.
“I got nervous not hearing from my dad and other family members for about a week,” said Altwayne Bedward, a senior communications arts major from Westmoreland, Jamaica.
“Because all the service and electricity was out in the country, I couldn't tell if they were okay or not.”
While it may have been the most affected, Jamaica was not the only country damaged by Hurricane Melissa. The storm stretched across the Caribbean, hitting Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos, while the Bahamas and Bermuda saw the ends and edges of the storm. Tayjo Oppong, a senior sports management major from Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, said Melissa had a great effect on the islands, despite thankfully not being fatal to any of the residents.
“There was an islandwide shutdown for businesses, and everyone was advised to stay inside but there was minimal damage,” Oppong said. “I don’t know of anyone killed or injured, but there’s always a financial and procedural strain for everyone when the island basically shuts down for a couple days.”
Now, Nelson and Bedward are looking to the future, hoping their home country can see the proper work and care necessary to build it back up to how it was, and better.
“I think it’s important to provide immediate relief supplies like food, clean water and medical aid,” Nelson said. “Long-term support should focus on rebuilding homes and infrastructure, as well as helping affected families get back on their feet.
“It’s important for us to come together as a community, both locally and internationally to support Jamaica. Every bit of help counts in speeding up recovery and rebuilding.”
Bedward shared his thoughts on how Jamaica could improve moving forward.
“I feel like when it gets to things like a category 5, there isn’t much you can do to prepare; damage will be done,” Bedward said. “I will say Jamaica, since the dawn of time, has struggled with drainage issues due to littering; I feel that should definitely be minimized and prioritized going forward.”
Bedward also told the Tropolitan that he and some of his friends from Jamaica will be starting a fundraiser to contribute to people who have suffered major loss as a result of Hurricane Melissa. The plans are not fully fledged out yet, but Bedward said they would love any form of support to help Jamaica get back on its feet and start running.
“We can all unite and make Jamaica event better than it was before the hurricane.”
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