Hurricane Melissa carved a path of destruction across the Caribbean, leaving fatalities, widespread flooding, and significant damage in its wake on October 30, 2025. The storm struck southwestern Jamaica on October 28, 2025, with winds exceeding 185 mph, causing catastrophic flooding and destroying historic sites, including the 1700s Black River Anglican Church.
Authorities have declared Jamaica a disaster area as search-and-rescue and clean-up efforts are underway. Power outages and communication disruptions persist across the island nation.
Hurricane Melissa: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
- Fast Facts: Hurricane Melissa
- What’s the latest update on Hurricane Melissa?
- What’s the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean?
- How many people have been affected by Hurricane Melissa?
- How is World Vision helping communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa?
- What’s the impact of Hurricane Melissa on the people of Haiti?
- How can I help people affected by Hurricane Melissa and other disasters?
Fast Facts: Hurricane Melissa
- Formed on October 21, 2025, as the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
- Intensified into a Category 5 hurricane on October 27, 2025.
- Reached maximum sustained winds at 185 mph, with higher gusts, according to NOAA.
- Made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, causing catastrophic winds, torrential rains, and flooding.
- The storm affected millions across the Caribbean, including Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
- Torrential rain lashed Haiti, the Caribbean’s most populous nation, causing floods and landslides.
- Resulted in nearly 30 deaths across the region: Haiti (25 deaths, including 10 children), Jamaica (4 deaths), and the Dominican Republic (1 death). Many others are missing.
- Endangered 1.6 million children in Jamaica, Haiti, and the surrounding islands.
- Caused widespread displacement, infrastructure damage, and agricultural loss across the Caribbean.
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What’s the latest update on Hurricane Melissa?
As of October 30, 2025, Hurricane Melissa had weakened to a Category 1 storm.
Melissa is currently 430 miles west-southwest of Bermuda, moving northeast at 30 mph. After passing Bermuda, the storm is expected to weaken further as it heads toward the Canadian Maritimes. By Saturday, Melissa is expected to become a strong post-tropical storm near Newfoundland.
At its peak, Melissa was a Category 5 hurricane, causing catastrophic damage across Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica.
What’s the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean?
Hurricane Melissa has unleashed powerful winds, torrential rainfall, and landslides across the Caribbean. As of October 30, 2025, the latest updates on the storm’s impact by countries are as follows:
Cuba
- Authorities had evacuated more than 700,00 people across eastern Cuba ahead of the storm’s landfall.
- In the province of Santiago alone, at least 241 communities remained isolated and without communications, affecting up to 140,000 residents.
Dominican Republic
- Heavy rains and widespread flooding triggered landslides, damaging homes and displacing hundreds of 900 people. Over 1.1 million people are without access to safe drinking water.
Haiti
- At least 25 people, including 10 children, have died in Haiti, and 12 are missing. Damage reports indicate that over 1,000 homes have been flooded, damaged, or destroyed, and nearly 12,000 people have moved into emergency shelters.
Jamaica
- Up to 1.5 million people could be impacted by the storm. Widespread power outages have left at least 72% of the island without electricity, and many areas are reporting catastrophic infrastructure damage.
- AccuWeather estimates that Melissa could cause $22 billion in damages and economic loss, with rebuilding potentially taking a decade or more.
Across the region, children are among the most vulnerable, facing disrupted schooling, unsafe shelter, and rising risks of malnutrition and exploitation.
How is World Vision helping communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa?
In Haiti, we already have a strong presence and are taking steps in our disaster relief efforts there:
- Pre-positioned emergency supplies: We are supporting at least 4,000 households with food, clean water, hygiene kits, and shelter materials. Local networks shared alerts and preparedness tips, helping residents brace for the storm’s impact.
In Jamaica, where World Vision doesn’t operate, we are preparing hurricane disaster relief through our partnerships:
- Pre-positioned emergency aid supplies: All six World Vision warehouses have essential supplies ready to deploy, with initial loads coming from Pittsburgh and Dallas to expedite delivery. As of October 30, 2025, two shipping containers of emergency response supplies from our Pittsburgh warehouse have been dispatched to Miami. Once distribution hubs in Jamaica are identified by the National Baptist Convention (NBC), World Vision will work to transport the containers to a port in Jamaica and onward to NBC church distribution sites.
- Shipping containers of aid: Immediate relief supplies from our Pittsburgh warehouse to Miami, for onward transport to Jamaica. Supplies include:
- Flood buckets
- Generators
- Hygiene kits
- Tarps
- Additional emergency items
Through these efforts, World Vision is working to ensure that children and families in both Haiti and Jamaica can receive urgent assistance in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
“With communications down and so many communities cut off, our biggest challenge is getting aid to those who need it most,” said Mike Bassett, World Vision’s national director of domestic humanitarian and emergency affairs. “We’re working with partners to deliver supplies and reach families in the hardest-hit areas.”
What’s the impact of Hurricane Melissa on the people of Haiti?
At least 25 people have died across Haiti, and 13 are missing. Damage reports indicate that at least 450 homes have been flooded, damaged, or destroyed.
“Children and families in Haiti are facing compounding crises,” said Lesly Michaud, national program director in Haiti. “We are committed to standing with communities through this storm and beyond, ensuring they receive the support they need to recover and rebuild.”
Prior to the storm, Haiti was already facing significant challenges. One of the world’s most vulnerable countries, Haiti’s nearly 5 million people — half of them children — are facing severe hunger. World Vision warns that Hurricane Melissa could further devastate food systems and set back recovery efforts amid ongoing violence and displacement.
“Food insecurity has been plaguing Haiti for the past year or so, where more than half of the population is food insecure,” said Guy F. Vital-Herne, communications manager for World Vision in Haiti. “The impact that we are seeing so far of Hurricane Melissa is putting more pressure now on some populations, with many crops being destroyed right now.”
