SARASOTA, Fla. ( WWSB ) - When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, hundreds of Americans were trapped, their hotels damaged, roads washed out and flights canceled.

But a local nonprofit stepped in when no one else could.

Many of those stranded were families and honeymooners on vacation when the storm hit. They lost power, were starting to run out of food and water, and had no way home.

That’s when a Tampa-based rescue team launched one of the largest civilian airlifts in recent history.

Grey Bull Rescue, a nonprofit based in Tampa and founded by veteran and humanitarian Bryan Stern, has already flown more than 353 Americans out of Jamaica after airports closed and roads washed away.

Stern says when every route out was blocked, his team made the call to act.

Grey Bull Rescue fou

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