Understanding the impact of Hurricane Melissa

In the wake of a large trail of destruction wrought by Hurricane Melissa, which was a record-breaking Category 5 storm that caused catastrophic damage and significant loss of life across the Caribbean, what were the major impacts and key takeaways for insurers and risk managers? The storm was fuelled by abnormally warm ocean temperatures, which increased the intensity of the hurricane before it made landfall in Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas, now enroute towards Bermuda, albeit weaker.  

Impacts 

Melissa made landfall in the New Hope region along the southern coast of Jamaica on October 28 as a Category 5 hurricane, with reported maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph), making it the strongest hurricane to ever hit the island and tying it with the Labor Day storm in 1935 as the strongest Atlantic Hurricane. The storm moved very slowly, which intensified its impact by prolonging torrential rainfall over affected areas. This "meandering" pace – Melissa moved slower than the average person’s walking pace at 2 miles per hour – is becoming more common due to climate change, according to some experts.  

There is evidence that slow-moving tropical storms and hurricanes are occurring more frequently in the Atlantic Basin, particularly near and over land masses. This both prolongs the duration of the wind and rain as it crosses over land, exacerbating its impacts, regrettably loss of lives and livelihoods, as well as economic destruction. 

The storm caused widespread destruction, particularly in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, which was reported to be "underwater". Coastal communities were devastated by a life-threatening storm surge, while mountainous areas experienced over 40 inches of rain leading to landslides and flash flooding, a double whammy. 

The hurricane damaged critical infrastructure, including hospitals, airports, police stations, and roads, leading to prolonged power outages and communication blackouts. This will increase the ‘clean-up’ challenge for many authorities and may sadly lead to more loss of life in the aftermath of this disaster. 

At least 25,000 people sought shelter in Jamaica as the prime minister declared the country a disaster area, with eight confirmed deaths. 

In the southern Haitian town of Petit-Goâve, a river burst its banks, killing at least 25 people, including 10 children. In the Dominican Republic, officials reported at least two deaths and widespread water-supply disruptions affecting half a million people.  

Prior to the storm's arrival, Cuban authorities evacuated over 735,000 people, a key factor in reporting no fatalities on the island. 

Key takeaways 

The storm highlighted the need for community preparedness and the importance of monitoring weather updates to ensure safety and safety of essential services.  

In response to the 2025 hurricane season, the Red Cross network is working to strengthen community resilience in over 28 countries by integrating science and local knowledge to protect communities from the growing risks posed by climate change.  

As for the rest of 2025, seeing as a Cat 5 has, in recent years, become a once-a-year event, however this year Melissa was the third -, only 2015 (4 events) surpasses this in recorded history. There is still a month left of the Atlantic hurricane season left and ocean temperatures across large parts of the Caribbean are still above average, so whilst it is statistically much less likely to see major storms in November,; 2025 has already given us surprises. Could there be another one before the season is over?, Russell will be watching.  

Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this disaster.