Hurricane Melissa

Just wanted to share a quick update! Thank you to everyone who has reached out, showing care and concern. I am safe with the rest of the Peace Corps Volunteers at a shelter in Kingston. Please please be sending your thoughts and prayers to Jamaica and Jamaicans. This storm is projected to be catastrophic, wiping out entire communities. It is also projected to set back economic development roughly 10 years. As of now, my community is partly connected with phone service and electricity in and out. There have also been two landslides on either side of my remote, high-altitude community, leaving members trapped up there. While safe from flooding at altitude, landslides are also projected to be detrimental, potentially taking homes and lives with them. I am sincerely hoping things will slow down/shift, but the reality is that immeasurable loss is coming to this island. This leaves the future of my service unclear, but more importantly, the futures of community members and loved ones here who are in danger. A byproduct of integration is deep concern, anxiety, and sadness for loved ones I left in my community, but what a blessing it is to have so many people to care for, just as they have cared for me. As I said, I am not sure what my future will look like as a PCV, whether it will be business as usual, temporary disaster relief work, or evacuation from the island completely. Once the storm passes and I get internet back, I will be sharing ethical and reputable nonprofits to donate to if you feel so inclined. I will check in when I can.

Marie