Following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, the U.S. State Department has deployed a multi-faceted disaster response strategy to support affected countries in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas. The hurricane, which made landfall on Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, has caused widespread devastation, with significant damage reported across the island. Power outages have affected over 77% of Jamaican residents, and more than 25,000 people have been relocated to shelters in the wake of the storm. The State Department has responded by activating its regional disaster assistance response team (DART), which includes U.S.-based urban search and rescue (USAR) teams expected to arrive in Jamaica on Thursday. Should commercial air operations be disrupted, the Department of War has confirmed it will provide airlift support to deliver essential supplies. In addition to the DART deployment, the State Department has allocated nearly $1 million from pre-positioned resources stored in warehouses across the region, including six in Haiti, one in the Dominican Republic, and another in Miami. These efforts extend to neighboring countries as well, with the Bahamas expected to request a humanitarian declaration later Wednesday, which would enable a disaster assistance response team to arrive by Friday. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos Islands are also bracing for the storm’s effects, with Cuba potentially facing a Category 2 impact. The DART will also assist Haiti, which is anticipated to face significant challenges in its recovery efforts. The hurricane’s path has raised concerns about the broader regional impact, signaling the need for a coordinated international response to mitigate the storm’s devastating effects.
State Department officials have confirmed that the deployment of these teams is a critical step in providing immediate support to affected populations. “We have stood up resources to assist our American citizens who are on the ground, in addition to deploying Disaster Assistance Response Teams who will help provide critical coordination in overseeing U.S. assistance,” said a State Department spokesman in a statement. The DART’s arrival marks a significant effort in addressing the widespread damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Melissa, underscoring the government’s commitment to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. However, the scale of the crisis has raised concerns about the long-term recovery and the need for sustained support from both domestic and international partners. The ongoing impact of the storm highlights the vulnerabilities of the Caribbean region to such extreme weather events, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of escalating climate-related threats.