Jamaica Braces for Hurricane Melissa, AGWM and Convoy Prepared to Respond

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 175 mph and even stronger gusts, is projected to directly strike Jamaica Tuesday afternoon. Authorities are anticipating catastrophic damage to the infrastructure of Jamaica, with lives in jeopardy and the destruction of countless homes, businesses, roads, transportation systems, communication towers, crops, and more a near foregone conclusion.

“The storm could drop 40 inches of rain over Jamaica and slam its southern coast with over 10 feet of catastrophic storm surge,” states Ethan Forhetz, national spokesperson for Convoy of Hope (COH). “This storm will be devastating.”

Convoy and AG World Missions are partnering to respond to the expected massive need.

“I’ve been working with the Jamaican leadership team and COH since Friday,” says David Speer, AGWM Caribbean Area director. “We had a conference call to talk through the logistics of the response and continued coordinating throughout yesterday and this morning.”

“It is an extraordinarily difficult time for the island, but help is on the way,” Forhetz says. “Convoy of Hope [in cooperation with AGWM] is working to respond with relief supplies including food, water, hygiene items, baby supplies, and more.”

Speer shares that the former presiding bishop (general superintendent) of the Jamaica Assemblies of God, Michael Grant, was unable to fly back to Jamaica to be with his family as airports had closed. So, Convoy of Hope flew Grant to Springfield, Missouri (the headquarters of Convoy), to help coordinate their response. Grant’s unique knowledge with how the system in Jamaica works and his ability to help Convoy make the right connections after the hurricane passes will be invaluable for getting containers of relief supplies into the country quickly and into areas of greatest need.

“AGWM continues to resource the response to urgent needs on the ground in conjunction with Convoy of Hope,” says AGWM Executive Director John Easter. “Please join us in praying for the protection and safety for those in homes vulnerable to hurricane-force winds, reduced storm intensity as the hurricane approaches the island, and the preservation of life.”

As the leading edge of the storm struck the island, Jamaica AG Presiding General Bishop David Ewen shared a brief message with Speers and the AGWM family: “We continue to pray and prepare. Thank you for every thought and prayer. Much blessings to you.”

IMAGE CREDIT: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) satellites