With less than two weeks before the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, many Jamaicans are entering another period of fear and uncertainty instead of preparedness and reassurance.

In sections of Westmoreland, some residents only recently had electricity restored after Hurricane Melissa devastated communities on October 28, 2025. Across western and southern Jamaica, particularly in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland, many families are still living under tarpaulins because their roofs remain unrepaired. Others remain displaced, with no homes to return to.

The condition of emergency shelters is equally troubling. Reports from several communities in St Elizabeth indicate that some shelters are still not structurally ready to safely accommodate residents if another major storm strikes. Many churches and schools designated as shelters remain in ruins. After the trauma of Hurricane Melissa, how can vulnerable citizens trust that adequate protection exists?