On October 28th, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane carrying winds up to 185 mph across the country. The storm was devastating as it is considered one of the strongest hurricanes to hit Jamaica in modern times.

In total, around 106 people were killed across the Caribbean with at least 45 of them being from Jamaica. Thousands were left homeless, but this didn’t stop the Jamaicans from being themselves. Clips blew up on Tiktok and Instagram displaying Jamaicans swimming in the streets and doing backflips off homes.

People across the world found it funny, but also uplifting to know that even during such dark times, the Jamaicans are making the most of their situation. 

“Oh yeah, I saw clips of the Jamaicans jumping off of roofs and stuff…It’s cool to think about how humans can always find a way to laugh even when there isn’t a reason too,” Ben Creech ‘28 said.

Clips also surfaced on the internet from tourists showing both tourists and natives coming together to help rebuild homes and hospitals for the injured. Even though there were many travelers who were mad at their situation, some decided to put their ego down and help those around them in this time of need. The bright spirits of the Jamaican people in spite of devastation inspired people both in Jamaica and around the world to seek out ways to help.

“It makes sense that some of the tourists were angry about the conditions after the Hurricane, and to be honest, I’d probably complain too. That’s what makes it pretty cool to see some people come together and help another in need,” Wyatt Walter ‘26 said.

This hurricane destroyed much of what we see as Jamaica and has set the island back a few years. Even through all this death and desolation, The Jamaicans, doing what they always do, are finding a way to find the good and fun in anything.