Grandma’s Emotional Reaction After Learning Her Family Home in Jamaica Was Destroyed by Hurricane Melissa
When Hurricane Melissa roared toward Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, Rebecca Morris and her family in Pennsylvania could only watch in fear as the island braced for impact. For them, the news was deeply personal — nearly all of their extended family still lived in Manchester, Jamaica, right in the path of one of the most powerful storms the Caribbean has seen in years. What began as anxious monitoring of weather updates soon turned into heartbreak when the family received confirmation that their longtime home, the one that held generations of memories, had been completely destroyed.
In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, Rebecca’s voice trembled as she recounted the moment her grandmother, who now lives with them in Pennsylvania, learned the devastating news. “She just sat there, quiet at first,” Rebecca said. “Then the tears started to fall. It wasn’t just a house to her — it was our family’s heart. It’s where she raised her children, where she spent every Christmas and every Sunday dinner surrounded by the people she loved.”
The hurricane tore through the island with winds exceeding 160 mph, ripping roofs from homes, uprooting trees, and flooding entire communities. In Manchester, the Morris family’s house — built decades ago by Rebecca’s grandfather — couldn’t withstand the force. “Our houses aren’t built for hurricanes, much less one that powerful,” Rebecca explained. “We were scared out of our minds.”
The aftermath has been emotionally shattering. Images sent from neighbors show the once-warm home reduced to wreckage — a roof twisted into metal shards, walls crumbled, furniture ruined beyond repair. The family’s photo albums, old furniture, and cherished keepsakes that told the story of their lives are now buried under debris. “It’s hard to put into words,” Rebecca said softly. “You grow up hearing about hurricanes, but you never think one day it’ll be your home that disappears.”
Her grandmother, who left Jamaica only a few years ago to join the family in the U.S., has struggled to process the loss. “She keeps saying, ‘At least they’re alive, at least they’re alive,’” Rebecca shared. “That’s what she repeats every day. But sometimes, I see her staring off into space like she’s replaying every memory she ever had in that house.”
The emotional toll on the family is compounded by the practical reality of what comes next. Rebuilding in rural Jamaica is a daunting challenge — the cost of materials, the lack of resources, and the distance from the U.S. make it almost impossible without help. That’s why the Morris family has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for reconstruction. “We just want to give our family a place to go back to,” Rebecca said. “They’ve lost everything — but they still have faith.”
For many in Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa has been a grim reminder of the growing intensity of storms in the region, fueled by rising global temperatures. Communities like Manchester, which once relied on modest but strong homes built by generations of families, now face a new level of vulnerability. Yet even amid the destruction, the Jamaican spirit of resilience shines through. “When we talked to our family back home, they told us not to cry,” Rebecca said. “They said, ‘We’ll rebuild. We’ve done it before. God will help us again.’”
In Pennsylvania, the family has started gathering clothing, food, and supplies to send back home. Friends and strangers alike have reached out to offer prayers, donations, and emotional support. “It’s been overwhelming in the best way,” Rebecca said through tears. “We never imagined people would care this much.”
For her grandmother, who has lived long enough to see joy and loss in equal measure, the experience has been deeply humbling. “She told me, ‘You can lose things, but you can’t lose love,’” Rebecca recalled. “That house may be gone, but the memories — the laughter, the stories, the smell of Sunday dinner — those will live forever.”
As the family continues to pick up the pieces, they remain grateful that their loved ones in Jamaica survived the storm. “The roof can be rebuilt,” Rebecca said. “But family — you can’t replace that.”
