WHEREAS, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica and Eastern Cuba in October 2025 as one of the most destructive storms in recent history, bringing torrential rains, catastrophic flooding, and widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods across the island; and
WHEREAS, The Government of Jamaica has reported severe devastation to key regions across the country, particularly in Southwest Jamaica, including extensive power outages, washed-out roads, landslides, and the displacement of thousands of residents, many of whom are now in urgent need of food, shelter, and medical assistance; and
WHEREAS, The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), international aid organizations, and the Jamaican diaspora are mobilizing resources to provide relief, yet the scale of recovery will require sustained support and global solidarity; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is home to the largest Jamaican-American community in
Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the U.S., with deep cultural, familial, and economic ties to Jamaica that enrich the social and civic fabric of our City; and
WHEREAS, Hurricane Melissa is the most significant storm to hit the island since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Many Philadelphia residents with roots in Jamaica are now struggling to contact loved ones, send assistance, and organize community relief efforts, underscoring the urgent need for coordination, compassion, and local support;
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa on the islands of Jamaica and Cuba, and calls on the City of Philadelphia to support hurricane relief efforts and provide assistance to Philadelphia’s Jamaican community.
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