Hurricane Melissa — Jamaica. Local Pastor Friend of FCFI Says Nearly Everyone, Including Churches, has Lost their Roofs in their Area: FCFI Responding
Due to the loss of roofs on almost all the homes in the hardest-hit areas on the south side of Jamaica, FCFI is gathering volunteers and financial resources to respond to Hurricane Melissa.
Since 2002, FCFI teams have been making trips to help farmers and pastors in Jamaica, and now our pastor friends are telling us about the widespread devastation. Immediate tarping of belongings that are exposed to the elements and then reroofing is urgently needed.
Our unique blend of help from farmers who are generally very practically equipped, and our ability to share our heartfelt care for the trauma and loss people face — sincere spiritual comfort — makes an important impact in such times as these.
Some of our members have even assisted with previous hurricanes in Jamaica, such as in response to the devastation of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. We are well-connected to local pastors and parachurch organizations, and due to our experience with hurricanes in the US, we are well-experienced to be of help there.
Current Situation
- Hurricane Melissa (Category 5) made landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 28, 2025
- Sustained winds: ~185 mph (295 km/h)
- Government has declared the entire country a national disaster zone
Major impacts:
- Storm surge up to ~13 ft (4 m)
- Extreme rainfall, flooding, and landslides
- Heavy infrastructure + housing damage
- Agricultural areas significantly impacted
- Major infrastructure failures, including:
- Power and communication disruptions
- Road blockages and damaged bridges
- Significant home and school damage
- Agricultural devastation — small farms hardest hit
- Rural parishes reporting slower access to international aid
Current status: Jamaica is now transitioning from immediate life-safety focus to early relief deployments.
Language: Jamaica is English-speaking (local dialect also used).
Key Needs
| Sector | Impact | Relevance to FCFI |
| Health & Clean Water | Waterborne disease high risk | Coordinate with medical groups; support volunteers |
| Food & Agriculture | Crops + livestock losses | Primary alignment — help small farmers |
| Shelter / Home Repair | Homes + roofs destroyed | Volunteer rebuilding / chainsaw + debris work |
| Rural Communities | Slower aid arrival | FCFI excels here — boots on the ground |
How FCFI Could Engage
Rapid Assessment — NOW
- Send down one or two individuals to scope out the opportunities for FCFI.
- Work with our existing pastor contacts Dorant Brown and Leroy Richards (both long-time FCFI partners), and through them assist those in need of reroofing in the rural areas which are often neglected by rapid response agencies.
- Determine needs: roofs, seeds, tools, livestock feed, fencing/livestock shelters, irrigation repair, etc.
- Ship materials or purchase locally to speed impact (depending on donations).
Our Potential Response Given What Is Appropriate at Different Stages
| Phase | Focus | FCFI Role |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 weeks | Emergency relief | Chain sawing fallen trees, tarps—new roofs, food coordination |
| 1–3 months | Early farm recovery | Seed/tools distribution, repairs |
| 3–12 months | Long-term resilience | Agricultural resilience training, discipleship |
If You Would Like…
- More information about volunteering to join a team to travel to Jamaica for disaster relief.
- To donate to the cause (used 100% toward Jamaica disaster relief on the ground) or visit our website to give, and be sure to mark for hurricane relief.
Please contact:
Dan Janzen
📞 616-676-6684
📧 dan@fcfi.org