Maryland lawmakers with Jamaican roots are working to shore up donations and support for the island nation in the wake of Hurricane Melissa‘s devastating damage. Montgomery County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, whose mother, brother and many more relatives live in Jamaica, is partnering with the Embassy of Jamaica, and Maryland Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins to provide aid.
Jamaica represents one of the largest Caribbean immigrant groups in this region. Tens of thousands call Montgomery County home, noted Sayles and Wilkins in a joint statement.
Damage from Hurricane
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, causing widespread damage. The strong winds and heavy flooding caused devastation to individual buildings and the country’s infrastructure, according to a State Department advisory. Parts of Jamaica have no electricity, clean water or phone service.
A Councilmember’s Connection
Both of Councilmember Sayles’ parents were born in Jamaica. Her mother resides in Georgia for part of the year but spends most of the year in her home in Falmouth, Jamaica. Sayles visits her family every year.
It took almost five days for Sayles’ mother to get to a place where she could charge her phone and call to tell her daughter she was okay. Her home, which is made of concrete, wasn’t badly damaged. But all the fruit trees surrounding it were destroyed from the Category 5 hurricane, according to Sayles.
Sayles said her heart was broken when her mother told her she had nothing to eat. She tried to convince her mother to fly home to Georgia. But her mother is reluctant to leave her friends and neighbors. Many other residents don’t have other homes or relatives to help.
Sayles hopes her mother will return to America for Thanksgiving.
According to Sayles, the nearby water where she has sailed in a bamboo gondola is “filthy” and filled with dead animals and washed away cars, she said. But residents are using it to wash, Sayles said, noting, “People are going to be sick.” It is a hot and mosquito-filled time in Jamaica, making everything worse, she added.
In a news release, Sayles wrote “As the daughter of Jamaican immigrants in Montgomery County, my heart is with Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on the island. Jamaican diaspora and allies stand with Jamaica because when family hurts, we show up. Your donations, support, and time, through trusted local partners, provide food, clean water and help restore shelter for families. This is more than charity, It’s solidarity.”
How to Help
Residents are asked to drop off gauze and other medical equipment, feminine hygiene and baby products, nonperishable foods, blankets, towels and cleaning supplies at either the Silver Spring Civic Building or Montgomery County College’s Germantown campus, Bioscience Education Center by Nov. 17.
Del. Wilkins wrote, “Jamaica is where I was born and a place that will always be a part of me. I am heartbroken by the devastation Hurricane Melissa has caused and the families who have lost everything. Montgomery County’s compassion knows no borders, and together we will show up, provide relief, and help rebuild the Jamaica we love.”
