My-Island-Jamaica.com
1 Year After Hurricane Melissa… This Is What We Found #HurricaneMelissa
The hurricane lasted hours. One year later, some families are still struggling to recover.
***README***
On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa devastated communities across western Jamaica. One year later, I returned to Left Hall and Beeston Spring in Westmoreland, and Catherine Hall in St. James, to answer one question:
**How are they REALLY doing?**
What I discovered was a moving mixture of gratitude, resilience, hope — and heartbreaking challenges that remain.
Some are rebuilding. Others are still waiting for meaningful help. And in Catherine Hall, where flooding devastated homes, even the sound of heavy rain can bring back painful memories.
This is their story. One year later.
🙏 Some residents have also shared their contact numbers in this documentary for anyone wishing to assist them directly.
🙏 Ms Jean Freeburn (Beeston Spring)
📞 Phone/WhatsApp: 876-567-0281
🙏 TracyAnn (Beeston Spring)
📞 Phone/WhatsApp: 876-591-1406 | 876-508-5804
🙏 Ms Polly (Catherine Hall)
📞 Phone/WhatsApp: 1 (876) 838-3197
🙏 Tamara (Catherine Hall)
📞 Phone/WhatsApp: 876-425-8436
👀 WHAT'S IN THIS VIDEO?
One year ago, I travelled into the hills of Westmoreland shortly after Hurricane Melissa struck.
What I saw was heartbreaking. Roofs were gone. Homes were destroyed. Families were left wondering how they would recover.
Many of you watched those early videos, donated, prayed, shared and helped us return with building materials, solar lanterns and other essentials.
But I always wondered what happened afterward.
Had these families rebuilt? Had they received more assistance? What was life really like one year later?
So I went back.
In Left Hall and Beeston Spring, I listened to residents share their progress, their gratitude and the challenges they still face.
Then I returned to Catherine Hall, St. James, where Hurricane Melissa brought devastating flooding. Families lost belongings, struggled to recover and now face renewed anxiety whenever heavy rain falls.
What struck me most was that people could be deeply thankful for how far they've come, yet still have so much left to overcome.
The storm has passed.
The headlines have faded.
But for some, the struggle continues.
This documentary is about more than destruction. It's about people, resilience, faith, gratitude and hope.
📖 **READ MY FULL HURRICANE MELISSA STORY**
I also put together a special article sharing my firsthand experiences, photographs, our relief efforts and what I discovered when I returned one year later: 👉 https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/hurricane-melissa-in-jamaica.html
🙏 Support our ongoing GoFundMe effort to assist families in Left Hall and Beeston Spring:
https://gofund.me/e40ba5d2f
🙏 Want to donate? Contact me at 876-825-2237 to discuss current needs.
🙏 Watch the original Hurricane Melissa devastation:
https://youtu.be/INT-VL4bt9U?sub_confirmation=1
❤️ A SPECIAL THANK YOU
I want to recognize the many wonderful people who have supported our Hurricane Melissa relief efforts, including:
🙏 Dr. Judith Johnson
🙏 Dorothy Darby
🙏 Our GoFundMe donors
🙏 Ceceille
🙏 Owen Wilson
🙏 Karen Black
🙏 Ms. Primrose and Shelly B
🙏 The Phillipe Family
🙏 The Patterson Family (St. Mary)
🙏 Rick
🙏 My own family
🙏 And everyone who donated, prayed, encouraged or shared our videos.
Your generosity has reached real families with real needs.
To the residents who opened their homes and shared their stories, thank you. Your voices matter.
❤️ HOW YOU CAN HELP
👉 GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/e40ba5d2f
👉 Foundation: https://myislandjamaicafoundation.org
👉 WhatsApp: 876-825-2237
Even if you cannot donate, sharing this documentary can make a difference. Sometimes the first step toward getting help is simply making sure someone is seen and heard.
Thank you for taking this journey with me.
-Wellesley
P.S. To appreciate how far these communities have come, please watch our earlier Hurricane Melissa videos:
👉 The original devastation:
https://youtu.be/INT-VL4bt9U?sub_confirmation=1
👉 First plywood and zinc distribution:
https://youtu.be/bzK5okyxFtQ?sub_confirmation=1
👉 Solar lantern distribution:
https://youtu.be/_OlpcjalwyM?sub_confirmation=1
👉 The morning after Melissa:
https://youtu.be/BRg6EBHCxm8?sub_confirmation=1
👉 Westmoreland road tour:
https://youtu.be/3H4iuX6W6-g?sub_confirmation=1
#HurricaneMelissainJamaica
🙏 GET IN TOUCH
Website: https://www.my-island-jamaica.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myislandjamaica/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myislandjamaica/
Email: contact@my-island-jamaica.com
WhatsApp: 876-825-2237
👨🏻🦰 WHO AM I?
I'm Wellesley Gayle, Jamaican-born and bred. Since 2007, I've been sharing the real Jamaica through articles, videos and community stories, helping people around the world better understand and appreciate our beautiful island and its people.
*Some links may earn me an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.*
#HurricaneMelissa #Jamaica #HurricaneMelissaOneYearLater #Westmoreland #CatherineHall
Published Oct 28, 2026
