Hurricane Melissa

Crawford is responding to claims and supporting affected people and communities in repair and recovery from this latest devastating storm. We also have experts assisting with business interruption claims.

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Updates

Nov 17, 2025

Having reached category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale while at sea, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica’s southwest coast on Tuesday October 28, with initial windspeeds of 185mph (298kph). Infrastructure was severely compromised as major roads and bridges were flooded, cutting off access to many remote communities. 

Crawford, together with trusted network partners, is now actively responding to claims and our absolute priority is to support recovery efforts and restore lives, businesses and communities as quickly as possible.

Currently, the main resorts and conurbations remain closed, with few signs of temporary repairs. Many properties suffered significant roof damage and so water ingress continues, with severe moisture damage and suspected microbial growth observed in several areas.

There is also widespread structural damage to building interiors and façades, especially on ocean-facing elevations. In some of the major leisure resorts, landscaped grounds and pools have been heavily impacted. 

Along with damage to the fabric of many structures, there is also parallel damage to mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) infrastructure such as rooftop air handlers, ductwork, water piping, and switchgear. 

Our teams are working closely with local experts to mobilise resources for urgent repairs. With those completed, we then be able to finalise our assessments and generate a full scope of works.

We will provide more updates as they become available.

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Oct 29, 2025

Having reached Category 5 status even while at sea, Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope in the parish of Westmoreland on Jamaica’s southwest coast on Tuesday, with the eye passing across the island at around 21.00 local time. As the storm tracked north over land towards Montego Bay, initial windspeeds of 185mph (298kph) slowed slightly, and so Melissa was downgraded to Category 4.

Jamaica’s south-western parish of St. Elizabeth is reported as having suffered extensive damage and is still largely under water. Many of its neighbouring parishes have also felt the impact of Melissa’s landfall.

More widely, infrastructure has been severely compromised as major roads and bridges have flooded, cutting off access to many remote communities. Over 500,000 people have been left without power, and regrettably, fatalities have been reported.

While the Jamaican authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders and provided enough shelters to accommodate over 20,000 people, it is highly likely that many of these will be displaced and unable to return home until damage assessment and clean-up operations can get under way; however, recovery efforts will be severely hampered by the flooding, fallen trees, landslides and widespread power failure.

With Melissa now tracking north towards Cuba, Crawford and its network partners are standing by to engage the highest level of surge plans and deliver a breadth of resources to meet increased demand for assistance across Jamaica.

As soon as it is declared safe to gain access, Crawford will be there with the right team, the right technology and the right processes to help restore lives, businesses and communities with empathy and efficiency.

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Oct 27, 2025

The beginnings of this weather event, now named Hurricane Melissa, were originally detected in the southern Caribbean sea, south of both Cuba and Jamaica.

In an update from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), we now know that Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale and is currently tracking towards Jamaica at around 3mph (6 kph) with landfall likely to occur early on Tuesday October 28.

With sustained winds already recorded at 160mph (260kph) and the likelihood that they will intensify in the next 24 hours, life-threatening and destructive hurricane conditions are expected to impact Jamaica, accompanied by rainfall of 15 to 30 inches (38 to 76cm), which may even peak to 40 inches (101cm) in some localised areas. Storm surges of up to 13 feet (4m) above ground level are also predicted along the south coast while inland there is likely to be catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in the higher ground. 

The Jamaican authorities are already warning that these will lead to road blockages and infrastructure breakdowns which will cause severe delays to damage assessment and clean-up operations.

The Jamaica Disaster Risk Management Council has emphasised the seriousness of the situation by warning residents not to underestimate the dangers posed by Hurricane Melissa. Authorities are strongly encouraging the population to seek refuge in one of the 900 designated shelters across the island. In response to the escalating threat with mandated evacuations for Port Royal in Kingston, as well as six additional areas.

Crawford and its regional partners are combining to engage the highest level of surge plans to deliver a breadth of resources across the island as soon as it is safe to gain access. 

With these plans engaged to meet increased demand for assistance across Jamaica, you can be sure that Crawford will be there with the right team, the right technology, and the right processes to help restore lives, businesses and communities with empathy and efficiency.