Jamaican Families Torn Apart by Hurricane Melissa
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A disaster response specialist from Kansas City-based Heart to Heart International is on the ground in Jamaica assessing the widespread damage from Hurricane Melissa and coordinating relief efforts.
The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and lasts through November 30. There have been 13 named storms so far this season.
Forecasters are keeping a close watch on the Caribbean, where warm waters and a break in disruptive winds could set the stage for a new tropical system as hurricane season nears its end. AccuWeather meteorologists say the southwestern Caribbean is under close observation for signs of tropical
Follow live updates on Hurricane Melissa as the death toll reaches 38 people. Recovery efforts are underway in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
The world's largest nonprofit public health organization, which focuses on addressing the HIV AIDS epidemic, will be deploying 41 pallets with critical supplies, like generators, water, toilet paper, tents, tarps, ready-to-eat food kits, feminine hygiene kits and water purification tablets.
Before Hurricane Melissa hit, the government expected Jamaica’s tourism industry to grow by 7 percent this winter season and was preparing to welcome an estimated 4.3 million visitors.