Hurricane Melissa

Our experienced GEM Caribbean team, based in Kingston, Jamaica, is leading large-scale humanitarian operations across the island in response to Hurricane Melissa. Within the first week alone, over 1 million pounds of emergency aid supplies have been deployed nationwide—reaching the hardest-hit southwestern parishes through a coordinated logistics network supported by GEM’s global headquarters.

As a permanent presence in Jamaica, GEM is committed to sustained, long-term recovery efforts. With two major warehouses strategically located in Kingston, our facilities are fully prepositioned to handle both immediate disaster relief and ongoing rebuilding initiatives. This infrastructure enables rapid mobilization of aid, efficient distribution, and continuity of support well beyond the initial emergency phase.

Through established partnerships with ODPEM (Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management), CDEMA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency), IOM (International Organization for Migration), and other key stakeholders, GEM ensures that every response is coordinated, targeted, and impactful. These collaborations reinforce our capacity to reach remote and underserved communities swiftly and effectively.

In partnership with IOM & American Friends of Jamaica, GEM has been working diligently to support Jamaica’s health-sector recovery. Hurricane Melissa damaged hundreds of health centers & hospitals, leaving hundreds of thousands of families without reliable access to essential care. To help stabilize the public-health system and restore lifesaving services, we have launched an urgent program to install durable temporary roofing solutions using high-grade tarpaulins and structural reinforcements. These temporary roofs enable medical teams to safely reopen facilities and resume operations for thousands of patients. In 2026, this program will expand to include full repairs and restoration.

This initiative is just one of many emergency programs underway. 

Our local GEM Caribbean team has been on the ground since Hurricane Beryl’s landfall in 2024, completing over 730 roof repairs for families whose homes were damaged. This work builds on GEM’s extensive regional experience, including our 2019 response to Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas, where GEM BStrong conducted over 850 evacuations, repaired 120 homes, and delivered aid through dozens of planes and barges filled with life-saving supplies.

Today, GEM continues to stand with the people of Jamaica—first on the ground, and last to leave—driving long-term resilience and recovery across the Caribbean.