Caribbean Matters: Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath

Caribbean Matters is a weekly series from Daily Kos. Hope you’ll join us here every Saturday. If you are unfamiliar with the region, check out Caribbean Matters: Getting to know the countries of the Caribbean. The legendary Taino goddess Guabancex has struck the Caribbean once again, this time wreaking havoc on Jamaica, Cuba and points north in the form of Hurricane Melissa. It was clocked as one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in recorded history. We often forget where the word “hurricane” comes from. “The term ‘hurricane’ finds its roots in the Caribbean, where the indigenous Taíno people of the Greater Antilles worshiped a storm deity named Juracán,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s official website explains. “This god’s name may also have come from the Mayan god of wind, Huracan.” The term’s popularity spread across Latin America when the Spanish explorers adopted the words “huracán” and “furacán” to describe the intense storms they had never witnessed before in Europe. “The word eventually became widespread in the English language as European colonial powers expanded their territories and often encountered these powerful storms in the Atlantic basin,” the NOAA adds. While headlines, news stories, and social media posts have not ignored Melissa and prayers for those in her path have been lifted around the globe, what we must face now is the aftermath-the grieving for lives lost, and the rebuilding from the rubble she left in her wake. Now is the time for those of us not part of the devastation to step up and contribute to vetted organizations faced with aiding the rebuilding and preparations for the inevitable hurricanes to come. Given President Donald Trump’s antipathy toward Cuba and racism toward Black people, I was surprised to see this Reuters story titled “US offers humanitarian aid to Cuba after hurricane”: "In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation of eastern Cuba, the Trump Administration stands with the brave Cuban people who continue to struggle to meet basic needs," he said. [.] A State Department spokesperson said the U. S. government has not received any request for federal assistance from Cuba. President Donald Trump has taken a hard line on U. S. policy toward the communist-run island, reversing measures put in place by former President Joe Biden. His administration said it would enforce a statutory ban on U. S. tourism to Cuba while supporting an economic embargo of the country. What worries me is that once this storm no longer dominates headlines, the critical rebuilding efforts and funding needed for it with outside help will no longer be at the forefront. I’m not being cynical, simply realistic, since I’m still writing stories about our Caribbean colony, Puerto Rico, which has not recovered from 2017’s Hurricane Maria. As could be expected, chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen was in place in Jamaica ahead of the storm. WCK’s Chef Mathieu checked in from Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall as a Category 5 storm, which struck Jamaica’s southwestern coast with winds reaching 185 mph. Once it’s safe to do so, our teams will mobilize with local partners to serve meals to impacted communities. #ChefsForJamaica [image or embed]- World Central Kitchen October 28, 2025 U. K. Member of Parliament Diane Abbott raised the issue of British support before the Parliament: 🚀TRENDING: British MP Diane Abbott asked the Foreign Secretary what support the UK will offer Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa. Yvette Cooper confirmed she had spoken with Jamaica’s Foreign Minister and stated the UK is ready to assist. #HurricaneMelissa #Jamaica #UKaid #JamaicaNeedsHelp [image or embed]- JAM RADIO NEWS (@jamuk-news. bsky. social) October 28, 2025 at 4: 53 PM This was followed up swiftly: UK to provide approximately $510M to Caribbean in humanitarian funding following Melissa UK’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said her nation is acting swiftly to support Jamaican authorities in providing disaster relief and expertise in response to the hurricane. iriefm. net/uk-to-provid.[image or embed]- Denise Oliver-Velez (@deniseoliver-velez. bsky. social) October 30, 2025 at 1: 25 PM Jamaica has posted a government website to send donations to: Official Jamaican government Melissa support website supportjamaica. gov roundup.

admin November 1, 2025

**Caribbean Matters: Hurricane Melissa Strikes the Region**

Welcome to *Caribbean Matters*, a weekly series from Daily Kos. We hope you’ll join us here every Saturday to explore important issues affecting the Caribbean. If you’re new to the region, start with our introductory piece: [Caribbean Matters: Getting to Know the Countries of the Caribbean](#).

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### The Fury of Guabancex: Hurricane Melissa

The legendary Taíno goddess Guabancex has struck the Caribbean once again—this time in the form of Hurricane Melissa, which wreaked havoc on Jamaica, Cuba, and points north. It was clocked as one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in recorded history.

Many of us often forget the origins of the word “hurricane.” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

> “The term ‘hurricane’ finds its roots in the Caribbean, where the indigenous Taíno people of the Greater Antilles worshiped a storm deity named Juracán. This god’s name may also have come from the Mayan god of wind, Huracan.”

The word gained popularity across Latin America after Spanish explorers adopted “huracán” and “furacán” to describe these intense storms, unfamiliar to Europe.

> “The word eventually became widespread in the English language as European colonial powers expanded their territories and encountered these powerful storms in the Atlantic basin,” NOAA adds.

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### After the Storm: The Road to Recovery

While headlines, news stories, and social media have highlighted the immediate impact of Melissa—and prayers for those in harm’s way have been offered worldwide—we now face the daunting aftermath. The grieving for lives lost and the monumental task of rebuilding lie ahead.

This is the moment for those of us not directly affected to step up. Consider contributing to vetted organizations that are aiding recovery efforts and helping communities prepare for inevitable future hurricanes.

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### US-Cuba Relations and Humanitarian Aid

Given President Donald Trump’s well-documented antagonism toward Cuba and his record on racial issues, it was surprising to see this Reuters headline:

**“US offers humanitarian aid to Cuba after hurricane.”**

Following the devastation in eastern Cuba, a spokesperson stated,

> “The Trump Administration stands with the brave Cuban people who continue to struggle to meet basic needs.”

However, the State Department also noted that the U.S. government has not received any formal request for federal assistance from Cuba. The Trump administration continues a hardline stance against the communist-run island, reversing many policies introduced during the Biden administration. This includes enforcing an existing ban on U.S. tourism to Cuba and maintaining economic sanctions.

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### Sustaining Attention Beyond the Headlines

What concerns me is that once Hurricane Melissa fades from the news cycle, the critical rebuilding efforts—and the funding required to sustain them—may no longer be prioritized. This isn’t cynicism, but realism. I continue to write about Puerto Rico, another U.S. Caribbean territory still struggling to recover years after Hurricane Maria in 2017.

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### Support and Relief Efforts Underway

As expected, Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen was already operating in Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Melissa and continues its vital work post-storm.

Time Magazine’s Chad de Guzman compiled a helpful [list of organizations accepting donations](#), and AP News provides an extensive list as well.

U.S. Congress members have called for active support, and U.K. Member of Parliament Diane Abbott raised the issue of British aid during a parliamentary session. This was swiftly followed by responses advocating assistance for the region.

Jamaica’s government has also launched an official website to facilitate donations—support efforts like this to help those impacted.

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### Stay Connected

Join me in the comments below for ongoing updates, detailed discussions, and the weekly Caribbean news roundup. Together, we can stay informed and engaged with the vibrant and resilient communities of the Caribbean.

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*Thank you for reading Caribbean Matters.*
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/11/1/2350540/-Caribbean-Matters-Hurricane-Melissa-s-aftermath?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source=main