Update on Recovery Efforts in Jamaica as Melissa's Death Roll Rises

It has been over two weeks since Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica as a monster Category 5 storm. What is the latest on the death toll and recovery efforts? Read on for an update on what is happening on the ground in Jamaica.

Death Toll Inches Up in Jamaica

The destruction left by the historic Hurricane Melissa is a constant reminder of the power of this record-breaking storm. Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28 with massive amounts of storm surge and winds clocking in at 185 mph. Jamaican Officer of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Director General Alvin Gayle confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll blamed on the hurricane now stands at 45. At least 15 people are still reported missing. Gayle also reported that over 130 buildings were completely destroyed by Melissa.

The devastation goes well beyond the structures that were destroyed. Gayle said that approximately 30,000 households have been displaced in the wake of Jamaica. The bulk of these are located in the western half of the island nation.