"When the category-5 storm Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October, its path crossed communities that had varying levels of preparedness. Many with maintained coastal protections, upgraded drainage and reliable early-warning systems had power and water restored in days. Others were immobilized for weeks."
"S.R. is a Coordinating Lead Author of Chapter 5 (Responses to losses and damages) in Working Group II contributing to the Seventh Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This role is unpaid. The views expressed in this Correspondence are S.R's own and do not reflect the views of the IPCC or any other organization."
Hurricane Melissa, a category-5 storm, struck Jamaica in October, crossing communities with unequal preparedness. Communities that maintained coastal protections, upgraded drainage infrastructure, and operated reliable early-warning systems experienced power and water restoration within days. Communities lacking such measures remained immobilized for weeks, facing prolonged loss of essential services and mobility. The contrast demonstrates that concrete investments in coastal protection, drainage upgrades, and early-warning capacity substantially shorten recovery time after extreme storms. The pattern implies that resilience and rapid restoration depend on prior infrastructure maintenance, targeted upgrades, and functioning emergency communication systems.
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