LEE COUNTY, Ky. — A Lee County woman is anxiously waiting for updates from family and friends in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa slammed into the island Tuesday as a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds, crippling infrastructure and leaving widespread destruction.
Tonja Leismeister, director of Traveling with a Purpose—a volunteer group that leads service trips to Jamaica—said she’s reached out to about a dozen contacts on the island but has only heard back from two so far.
“It’s been nerve-racking for sure,” Leismeister said.
A Personal Bond With Jamaica
Leismeister’s organization supports two children’s homes and an autism center in Jamaica. Her connection to the island runs deep—two of her children were adopted from there.
“So two of our children are adopted from Jamaica, and we wanted to support the homes that raised our children for many years,” she explained.
Of the two contacts who responded, one was off the island during the storm, while the other managed to post an update on Facebook Tuesday afternoon.
Calling for Kentucky’s Support
As heartbreaking images and videos emerge from Jamaica, Leismeister hopes Kentuckians will rally to help, drawing on their own experiences recovering from devastating storms.
“Our infrastructure is much more stable than in Jamaica. The devastation could be much more significant, and repairs could take much longer,” she said.
Relief Efforts Begin
Leismeister’s group is now collecting donations and organizing relief efforts while waiting for updates about specific needs on the ground. Despite the destruction, the team still plans to continue its scheduled service trip in January.
“If we aren’t able to go in January, we’ll reschedule in the next few months,” she said.
She added that recovery efforts will focus on listening to local leaders and the Jamaican government to ensure the right types of donations reach those most affected by the catastrophic storm.
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