Shaneal Mitchell, a sophomore political science major at Howard University was unable to contact her family in Spanish Town, Jamaica, on Tuesday. All she could do was watch the news as reports warned that Hurricane Melissa could be worse than Gilbert — the 1988 storm that left hundreds homeless.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, marking it as the strongest hurricane to ever hit the island.
The eye of the storm moved across Jamaica around 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, leaving behind widespread flooding and destruction. By early Wednesday morning, Melissa had reached eastern Cuba with winds of 120 mph and was expected to impact the Bahamas through Thursday afternoon.
Although Melissa didn’t directly hit Haiti, at least 25 people died after flooding caused a river to overflow in Petit-Goave, a coastal community 40 miles west of Port-au-Prince, according to Reuters.
At Howard University, the Office of the Dean of the Chapel held a prayer vigil Tuesday evening to support those affected, including students with family in the region.
“One of the great traditions of Howard is our response to crisis,” said the Rev. Bernard Richardson, Dean of the Chapel. “We have faith and believe prayer helps.”
For students like Zion Kelly, a sophomore international business major from Jamaica, the vigil offered a sense of community amid uncertainty about her family back home.
She said she appreciates the vigil, as it felt like a way for the university to acknowledge the disaster.
“We all have to join hands together and be there to support — not just by our words, but our actions.”
— Krissan Spaulding
Krissan Spaulding, a junior pre-med student from Kingston, shared similar feelings of gratitude and sorrow.
“I feel very sad,” Spaulding said. “As a Jamaican, it’s not just about your family, but the entire country, your community.”
“We are a country full of love,” she said. “We all have to join hands together and be there to support — not just by our words, but our actions.”
Richardson echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that while prayer is essential, continued aid and compassion will be just as important in the days to come.
Jamaica was perfect to Spaulding, who reflected on the destruction in her homeland with buildings destroyed and roofs torn off.
“It’s really sad to see what families are going through and while I’m here and I can’t help,” she said.
But for Spaulding, the worst part is “knowing that the hurricane has passed and they won’t have all that they had before.”
Damenica Ellis and Bamidele Aina are reporters for HUNewsService.com.
Hurricane Melissa Hits Home at Hampton
By Cameron Kilpatrick
HAMPTON, Va. (HUNS) — Hampton University student Kiara Lee expressed deep concern for her grandparents, who own property in Jamaica and for relatives who work on local farms after Hurricane Melissa devastated the island and others in the Caribbean.
“It’s hard to stay focused when you can’t reach your family,” said Lee, a junior political science major from the Bronx, New York.
For Lee, the Category 5 storm is more than just a weather event; it’s personal.
Although she admits she isn’t an expert in atmospheric science, she understands how destructive storms form. Lee, who is of Jamaican and Panamanian descent, explained that powerful hurricanes capable of damaging coastal areas often result from the collision of warm and cold fronts.
Lee also expressed concerns about flooding at Hampton, a campus located below sea level, and spoke about the vulnerability of infrastructure in regions like the North Carolina Outer Banks.
Despite these fears, she remains hopeful. Lee believes Hampton could play a key role in climate research and innovation, helping to address the long-term effects of climate change.
Community, she emphasized, is at the heart of her message. Lee discussed the importance of communication, aid and organization — especially during natural disasters.
Her family currently sends money and supplies to loved ones and students in Jamaica, but she believes those efforts could be expanded through education and fundraising. “We just need to make sure we can check on our people,” she said.
Lee’s resilience stems from a deep desire to protect not only her loved ones but also the legacy of the communities most affected by the storm.
Cameron Kilpatrick is a student in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University.
