Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm, producing 185 mph winds, storm surge and widespread destruction across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti. Thousands of homes are damaged or destroyed, and communities now face long seasons of recovery.
ReachGlobal Crisis Response is mobilizing to help local churches meet urgent needs and share the love of Christ.
Our response
Because of long-term partnerships in Cuba and Haiti and emerging relationships in Jamaica, ReachGlobal Crisis Response and our Latin America/Caribbean (LAC) team are already positioned to respond.
- Cuba: LAC division leaders are traveling to meet with trusted partners in the Los Pinos Nuevos denomination. They will assess damage and encourage pastors and congregations in affected communities.
- Haiti: We’re collaborating with long-term partners to understand the destruction and identify the highest priorities. For more than a decade, Haiti has been home to a ReachGlobal team as well as multiple GlobalFingerprints sites.
- Jamaica: New, well-positioned partnerships are forming, opening doors for collaboration with churches across the island.
These relationships reflect both immediate response work and long-term ministry impact. As we assess needs, Crisis Response will coordinate with local churches and EFCA congregations to deliver supplies, provide trauma care and plan long-term ministry initiatives.
Ways to engage
Your gifts to the Hurricane Melissa Response Fund will help local churches and partners meet immediate needs and share the love of Christ with suffering communities.
- Give: Contribute toward our initial target of $250,000 for emergency relief, supplies and long-term support.
- Pray: Ask God to comfort the grieving, sustain weary responders, open doors for the gospel and guide every decision in this effort.
- Go: As travel becomes possible and partnerships take shape, we will invite volunteer teams. Watch for future opportunities to serve.
ReachGlobal's Latin America and Caribbean team's existing plans to visit Cuba coincided with the hurricane, enabling our leaders to respond quickly after the storm. As always, we trust the Lord to use this crisis to open new ministry pathways and draw people to Himself through the witness of local churches and ministry partners.
Help bring hope and healing to those impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Together, we can meet physical needs, sharing the gospel and helping local churches shine His light in the midst of suffering.
You can be a part of the Hurricane Melissa Response by giving online or mailing a check designated "Hurricane Melissa 21709-3969MEL" to:
