After Melissa, Hubert and family finally go home

“This is the first time in my 64 years that I am homeless,” said Hubert Samuels emphatically, recalling the morning Hurricane Melissa tore through Black River last October.

The powerful system, which intensified to a Category 5 hurricane at its peak, left parts of St Elizabeth devastated. Homes were flattened, roofs torn away and entire communities displaced. Samuels’ multigenerational household was among them. Their family home in Black River was destroyed, forcing him to find temporary shelter for his wife, daughter and granddaughter.

Since the storm, the family has not lived under the same roof. Samuels and his wife stayed with a niece in Black River, while his daughter and granddaughter sought refuge at the community shelter in Slipe District. Months passed in uncertainty as they waited for news of what could be salvaged.

Now, with reconstruction nearly complete, that waiting is over.

Samuels’ home was rebuilt through a partnership between NCB Foundation and Food for the Poor Jamaica, supported by funding from the foundation’s annual Grant a Wish programme. In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the foundation committed resources to support long-term recovery in the hardest-hit communities, including Black River, where widespread structural failure left many families displaced for months.

Standing at the front of his rebuilt home watching the final coat of paint dry, Samuels’ voice shifted from strain to relief.

“As soon as mi get mi house key, my family is coming right back home,” he said.

More than anything, he was looking forward to having his family together again under one roof.

“Black River received one of the most devastating blows from the hurricane. The level of destruction required more than short-term relief,” said Perrin Gayle, CEO of NCB Foundation. “By working with Food for the Poor Jamaica, we are helping families return home safely, with stronger structures that are better able to withstand future weather systems.”

According to Kivett Silvera, acting executive director of Food for the Poor Jamaica, homeowners must demonstrate legal rights to their property through ownership documents, tax receipts or long-term lease agreements to qualify for rebuilding support. Priority was given to homes originally constructed by the charity and located directly along the storm’s path, including areas where damage was intensified by tornado activity. Samuels’ home met those criteria.

The rebuilt structure includes a loft to provide additional sleeping space and a larger patio where the family can gather. Structural upgrades such as hurricane straps and reinforced fastenings, replacing traditional nails with screws, improve the home’s ability to withstand hurricane-force winds.

Silvera noted the importance of local partnerships in recovery efforts.

“Many of our donors are internationally based. Having a Jamaican partner like NCB Foundation provide this level of support makes a meaningful difference for families rebuilding their lives.”

With keys finally in hand, Samuels is all smiles.

“I appreciate every single bit of help that I am getting now. I feel so comfortable and I am not even in my house yet.”

After months apart, the Samuels family is preparing to do what once seemed uncertain – go home.