On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica as the second strongest hurricane in recorded history, with winds of more than 185 miles per hour or category 5-the highest on the scale for these weather events. This was a slow moving storm that crawled across the island at less than 2 miles per hour, rather than the normal 10 -20 mph for most Atlantic hurricanes. This slow movement extended and exacerbated the impact of the winds and rain. More than 25 inches of rain fell in the 24 hour period that the storm lingered over the island. When it was over thousands of homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. To date the officially confirmed death toll stands at 56.
While the eye of the hurricane passed over the western section of the island, category 3 force winds extended into the central section where the village of Sligoville is located. In addition to the wind velocity and duration, the heavy rainfall ravaged the hillside farms and dwellings. The location of the village on the southern slope of the central mountain range made it more exposed and vulnerable to the impact of the storm.
Sligoville was the first free village founded in Jamaica after chattel slavery was abolished in 1836. Originally located on lands belonging to the Baptist Church, the village now has a population of between 2,500 and 3,000 who are mostly small farmers growing a variety of vegetables, staple food crops and a variety of fruits for subsistence and income through sales of products in the Spanish Town and other markets. Many of these farmers also raise poultry and goats.
Farming is the economic backbone of this community. Most of the approximately 70 farms are less than 2 acres in size, located on the hillsides that dominate the topographic features of the area. With the farming sector destroyed, the economy of the village and surrounding districts is in a tailspin that will take several years to recover. All farmers lost their investments in seeds and other inputs, and hundreds of chickens and scores of goats. These farms are also the major source of employment for those who are not themselves farmers. Many small shop owners lost inventory during the two-week electricity outage.
One of the most visible and agonizing result of the impact of the storm is the increase in the number of children in the Early Childhood Development Center, also called the Basic School, requesting food assistance. Before the hurricane, 40% of 50 children requested subsidized lunches; now, of the 45 who returned, all but 9 (or 80%) do, as parents lose their primary sources of income. Additionally, part of the lunchroom lost its roof and needs emergency repairs in the 4 short term and replacement of the entire roof within one year.
The most critical needs currently, in order of priority are:
Immediate:
Materials for emergency temporary roof repair to lunchroom. Purchase of zinc sheets, lumber and other materials. Parents and community volunteers will provide the labor. $2500.
- One time assistance of $US200 each for 40 farmers for the purchase of seeds, tools and other farming inputs; day old chicks and feed, replacement of goat breeding stock. $8,000.
- Subsidy for school lunches for 50 children per day of US$480 per month for six months. $2,880.
- Materials for emergency temporary roof repair to lunchroom. Purchase of zinc sheets, lumber and other materials. Parents and community volunteers will provide the labor. $2,500.
Medium to long term:
- Materials and skilled labor for replacement of entire roof of the school with poured concrete which would render the roof hurricane proof. Unskilled labor to be provided by the parents and community volunteers. ($12,000)
