Red Cross Movement responds in Caribbean as Hurricane Melissa causes devastation across the islands

men in Red Cross clothing help evacuate someone

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In the Dominican Republic, Red Cross volunteers have carried out rescues and preventive evacuations in flood-affected communities and helped transfer patients from the local hospital to safer medical centers ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa. Photo by Dominican Red Cross

people in Red Cross vests prepare relief supplies

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In Jamaica, where thousands of people are at risk, the Jamaican Red Cross is mobilizing volunteers and relief supplies to help those impacted by the hurricane. Hundreds of shelters have been set up to provide a safe place to stay for the most vulnerable groups from at-risk areas. Photo by Jamaica Red Cross

man in Red Cross vest and others in hard hats walk down a dirt road

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In Haiti, the Red Cross has activated the Jérémie Emergency Operations Centre and is coordinating preparedness measures with local authorities. Volunteers are disseminating preventive messages to inform families how to protect themselves ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa. Photo by Haiti Red Cross

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The Dominican Red Cross is active in response to Hurricane Melissa, providing psychosocial and recreational support to refugee children at El Túnel School (Capotillo) and distributing hygiene kits. It is also conducting interviews to assess the needs of families with the support of the CEA team. Dominican Red Cross photo.

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Hurricane Melissa is making landfall today In Jamaica, where damage from the storm could be catastrophic. More than 165,000 people are at risk. Here volunteers prepare relief supplies to position across the island before storm arrives. Jamaica Red Cross photo.

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The Cuban Red Cross is helping with preventive evacuations, offering psychosocial support, and helping families to get back in touch with each other ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa. Cuban Red Cross photo.

October 29, 2025

American Red Cross supporting relocated military personnel,
coordinating with Red Cross network on the islands as storm makes landfall

WASHINGTON, October 29, 2025 — Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm in southwestern Jamaica and continues to carve a path of destruction across the Caribbean islands. The devastation from Melissa is expected to be extensive.

The American Red Cross is closely coordinating with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to understand the effects of the storm and where the organization can offer support in the coming days and weeks.

As storm conditions still plague Jamaica, reports indicate Melissa caused extensive flash flooding and numerous landslides, particularly across the southern area of the island. Many of these areas are not typically flood-prone, leading to communities being caught off guard and reports of people trapped in their homes.

Initial Red Cross reports indicate widespread infrastructure damage, including collapsed roads, telecommunications outages, flooded bridges, power outages and structural damage to buildings in several parts of the island. Despite the hazardous conditions, Jamaica Red Cross teams are operating ambulances to respond to health emergencies in shelters and support safe transfers to medical facilities. The Jamaican Red Cross is also supporting shelter management. Across Jamaica, 268 shelters are open, with the Red Cross directly managing 27 and ensuring safe sheltering and essential services for people at risk.

MELISSA STILL DANGEROUS Hurricane Melissa continues to be a life-threatening hurricane, and several countries are still at risk. The storm threatens communities already facing overlapping crises — from poverty and inequality to violence and recent disasters. These compounding vulnerabilities increase risks and can slow recovery.

In Cuba, hurricane-force winds are expected, along with as much as 25 inches of rain which is likely to cause life-threatening flash floods and landslides. Authorities expect devastating impacts. Melissa threatens the part of the country severely impacted by Hurricane Oscar in October 2024. In eastern communities, homes were damaged, essential services were disrupted, and nearly 300,000 people temporarily lost access to safe water. Recovery has progressed, but shortages and fragile infrastructure persist.

Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides are still expected in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Melissa hits Haiti amid extreme violence and mass displacement. Over 1.3 million people have been forced from their homes, many sheltering in schools and public spaces, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Access to food, water, healthcare, and education is severely disrupted, while cholera and other diseases are resurging in the most affected areas. Overlapping crises could push an already critical humanitarian situation into a catastrophe.

HELP FINDING LOVES ONES The American Red Cross Restoring Family Links program helps reconnect families separated by international crises such as conflict, disaster or migration. If you’ve lost contact with a relative due to a humanitarian emergency and meet certain criteria, the Red Cross may be able to help. To begin this process, call our helpline at 1-844-782-9441, or contact your local Red Cross chapter and ask for our Restoring Family Links program.

After a disaster, communities could be affected by widespread power outages and limited internet connectivity which can make it difficult to reach people. If you are looking for someone, we recommend:

Sending a text message or email.
Checking their social media accounts.
Calling other friends and relatives.
Calling during off-peak hours.
Calling people and places where the person spends time (i.e., neighbors, employer, school, place of worship, senior center, etc.)
If you are concerned about a United States citizen who is traveling or living abroad, contact the US State Department Office of Overseas Citizens Services and Crisis Management at 1-888-407-4747 or online at: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies.html.
If you are searching for a loved one who is not a United States citizen, submit an inquiry form on our website: https://www.redcross.org/contact-us/international-reconnecting-families-inquiry-form.html.
If you live in a country other than United States, visit the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) online for information about what services the ICRC and your local Red Cross or Red Crescent Society can provide.

SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE RELOCATED AWAY FROM STORM Over the weekend, the U.S. Navy relocated people and several hundred pets from military installations located in the storm’s path to Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. American Red Cross volunteers from both Service to the Armed Forces and Disaster Cycle Services activated a Family Assistance Center to assist the people being relocated by the Navy.

The volunteers welcomed the arrivals, helped get them settled and distributed supplies such as diapers, formula, wipes, strollers, baby food and pack and plays to those arriving in Florida. Also distributed were comfort kits containing basic necessities like toothbrushes and soap, cases of water, snacks, dog food and cat litter.

In one instance, the mother of a newborn infant discovered she had left some important items behind for her new baby. Red Cross workers found a store open at 2:00 a.m. and were able to purchase the supplies for her.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.