Shared Struggles, Shared Solutions

A Region Under Siege

When Jamaica was struck by Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and Hurricane Melissa in 2025, it felt like the island was carrying the weight of disaster alone. Yet across the Caribbean, storms have been rewriting lives for decades. Each island has its own scars, and together they tell a story of survival in the face of relentless winds and rising seas.

Dominica’s Breaking Point

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria slammed into Dominica with winds of 160 mph. Ninety percent of homes were damaged or destroyed, and the storm caused damages equal to 226 percent of the nation’s GDP. For months, families lived under tarpaulins, schools were closed, and the economy was brought to its knees.

Dominica, September 2017: When Maria Took Everything

Puerto Rico’s Long Blackout

That same year, Maria plunged Puerto Rico into darkness. The power grid collapsed, leaving 3.4 million people without electricity. Hospitals struggled to keep equipment running, and many communities cooked over open fires for weeks. The blackout lasted for nearly a year in some areas, showing how fragile infrastructure can be when storms strike.

The Bahamas Stalled in Time

In 2019, Hurricane Dorian stalled over Abaco and Grand Bahama for more than 24 hours. Winds of 185 mph shredded buildings, while storm surges of 7 meters swallowed neighborhoods. More than 70,000 people were left homeless, and the death toll climbed into the hundreds. The storm’s slow crawl turned thriving towns into wastelands.

185 mph. 7 Meters. 24 Hours. One Storm.

Belize’s Coastal Struggles

Belize has long lived with the tension between development and nature. Its mangrove forests, once abundant, have been cut back in places, leaving coastlines more vulnerable. Studies show that mangroves can reduce storm surge heights by up to 50 percent, yet when they are removed, communities face the full force of the sea.

Jamaica in Context

Jamaica’s story is part of this larger Caribbean narrative. The hurricanes that tore through our towns are not isolated events. They are chapters in a regional struggle where small islands face storms that grow stronger each year. More than 70 percent of the Caribbean’s population lives within 10 miles of the coast, and that proximity makes us all vulnerable.

One Caribbean, One Future

Every island has faced its own trial, and together they remind us that resilience is not just about one nation. It is about learning from each other, carrying lessons forward, and preparing for storms yet to come. Jamaica’s path forward must be rooted in shared wisdom, because the next hurricane will not ask which island is ready.

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