South Florida organizations are rapidly mobilizing a comprehensive relief campaign for Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday slammed into the island nation.
Melissa Tuesday in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with top winds of 185 mph (295 kph), one of the on record, before weakening and moving on to Cuba, but even countries outside the direct path of the massive storm felt its devastating effects.
The massive storm has left dozens dead and widespread destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, where roofless homes, fallen utility poles and water-logged furniture dominated the landscape.
One major relief effort locally is being led by, in partnership with the Global Empowerment Mission and The Miami Foundation. They are urging the community to immediately donate, volunteer, and procure critical relief supplies for the recovery phase once the storm passes.
Hurricane Melissa into a Category 5 storm Monday as it drew closer to , where forecasters expected it to unleash , landslides and widespread damage. At that strength, it would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851.
READ MORE: Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica and threatens to be the island's strongest recorded storm
Blamed for six deaths in the northern Caribbean , Melissa was to make landfall Tuesday in Jamaica before coming ashore in Cuba later in the day and then heading toward the Bahamas. It was not expected to affect the United States.
Marlon Hill, lead volunteer mobilizer of South Florida Caribbean Strong, said 鈥渋t鈥檚 crucial that we mobilize efficiently 鈥� delivering the greatest aid to the most people, at the lowest possible cost.鈥�
Organizers said volunteers are needed to assemble emergency kits at GEM鈥檚 warehouse in Doral (1850 NW 84th Ave, #100, Doral, FL 33126). Shifts are available Monday鈥揊riday (10 AM鈥�1 PM & 2 PM鈥�5 PM) and Saturday (10 AM鈥�2 PM).
Deika Morrison, GEM鈥漵 Executive Country Director for the Caribbean, told SA国际传谋 from Kingston that their work on the ground has been essential to recovery efforts, including Hurricane Beryl鈥檚 landfall last summer.
鈥淎fter Beryl, GEM was the first to arrive in Jamaica, and they came with a plane that had 15 generators鈥� necessity kits, which are food and other hygiene kits,鈥� said Morrison.
She added that donations are still being accepted and are on standby for when flights to the island re-open.
鈥淭his is what happened with Beryl: as soon as the airport opened, the first plane arrived,鈥� said Morrison.
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GEM officials said several drop-off points have been confirmed across Miramar and Lauderhill:
MIRAMAR
City of Miramar: All four Fire Stations (19, 70, 84, 100, and 107) and the Miramar Police Headquarters. The locations:
Fire Station 19 鈥� 6700 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023
Fire Station 70 鈥� 9001 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33025
Fire Station 84 鈥� 14801 SW 27th Street, Miramar, FL 33027
Fire Station 100 鈥� 2800 SW 184th Avenue, Miramar, FL 33029
Fire Station 107 鈥� 11811 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023
Miramar Police Headquarters 鈥� 11765 City Hall Promenade, Miramar, FL 33025
LAUDERHILL
City of Lauderhill: Lauderhill City Hall, Veterans Park, John Mullins Park, Westwind Park, the Lauderhill Historical Museum, and Joy鈥檚 Roti Delight.
Lauderhill City Hall 鈥� .
Veterans Park 鈥� .
John Mullins Park 鈥� .
Westwind Park 鈥�
Historical Museum 鈥� .
Joy鈥檚 Roti Delight 鈥� .
Hours: Parks 鈥� Mon鈥揊ri, 9 AM鈥�9 PM Joy鈥檚 Roti Delight 鈥� Daily, 9 AM鈥�9 PM
HOMESTEAD
The City of , in partnership with GEM, is also collecting essential supplies for families affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Drop-Off Locations:
City Hall 鈥� 100 Civic Court, Homestead, FL 33030
Homestead Police Department 鈥� 45 NW 1st Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030
Phichol Williams Community Center 鈥� 951 SW 4th St, Homestead, FL 33030
Collection Hours
Beginning on Tuesday, October 28th
Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8AM 鈥� 5PM
Note: Phichol Williams Community Center will be open Saturdays from 8AM-5PM for additional drop-off donations.
TAMARAC
The City of Tamarac is launching a Jamaica Relief Drive to provide aid to communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
The city is accepting new, unopened items only at multiple drop-off locations. Pre-loved or used items cannot be accepted.
Donation Drop-Off Locations (9 a.m.鈥� 4:30 p.m.):
Tamarac City Hall: 7525 NW 88th Ave.
Fire Station 15: 6000 Hiatus Road
Tamarac Community Center: 8601 W Commercial Blvd.
Tamarac Recreation Center: 7531 N University Dr.
Fire Station 36: 7499 NW 72nd St.
For more information, call (954) 597-3620 or visit
