Hurricane Melissa devastates Caribbean, death toll still rising: ‘You can never have too much, when you have nothing’

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - More than 30 people have died in the Caribbean due to Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane.

Jamaica faced the worst of the storm, with at least 8 fatalities and more than 70% of the country left without power.

Victoria Samuels, a Kingston resident, noted that the storm unexpectedly shifted course, causing further devastation as the country was still recovering from last year’s Hurricane Beryl.

“This is not a regular hurricane,” Samuels stated. “It is a Category 5 and it is the strongest to ever hit Jamaica.”

The destruction includes homes gone without a trace, downed power lines, and waterlogged belongings.

“We just really want to help, so we’re collecting money and we’re going to our version of Costco, which is called PriceMart