Rebuilding Black River After Hurricane Melissa

Black River, St. Elizabeth, a town known for its history, resilience, and warmth is facing one of its darkest moments. On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, made direct landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast and reduced the town to rubble within hours.

For Mahalia Richards, who grew up on Crane Road and now lives in London, Black River is still home. Her mother lives there, her childhood friends remain, and the community that shaped her life is now fighting to survive.

Black River was once a proud symbol of Jamaican progress, the first town to have electricity and motorcars. Today, that legacy sits against overwhelming destruction. The storm surge swallowed streets. The river overflowed. Winds above 160 mph tore through homes, schools, and churches. Entire neighborhoods were flattened. What was once a vibrant town is now a landscape of debris and loss. Many families had no home insurance. Rising premiums for coastal and riverside homes became unaffordable, forcing residents to live unprotected. Now they face total loss with no compensation, no financial support, and nowhere to turn.

Why Mahalia Is Raising Funds

This fundraiser is for Mahalia’s family, friends, neighbours, and everyone who built the spirit of Black River long before the storm.

Funds will go toward:

Replacing roofs destroyed by the hurricane
Pumping water out of flooded homes
Rebuilding houses to a livable state
Providing temporary shelter
Supplying essentials like food, water, and basic items
Supporting cleanup and safety efforts

Mahalia is working directly with residents and volunteers to ensure donations are used transparently and where they are needed most.

A Call to Rebuild What Was Lost

Black River has been a beacon of culture, unity, and strength for generations. Now, it needs the support of those who believe in community beyond borders. Every donation helps a family move closer to stability. Every share spreads awareness. Every act of kindness helps restore dignity, hope, and home.

Black River can rebuild but not alone.

Thank you for standing with this community, for giving when it matters most, and for helping restore a town that has given so much to Jamaica.

Donate: here