Rebuilding Lives Left Devastated
"CSS Help 500 was born from our desire to restore the lives and dignity of at least 500 vulnerable Jamaicans who were devastated by a record breaking storm."
Richard Woodson, Executive Director
Our Story
The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa left the western parishes of Jamaica in ruins; lives lost, homes destroyed, livelihoods disrupted, and families struggling to survive and rebuild.
As a Tennessee-based, US Army veteran owned construction and manufacturing firm, Construction Support Services (CSS) has for years worked alongside hundreds of Jamaicans – through its operations providing invaluable training, acclimation, and employment opportunities.
After CAP Media (A Jamaican - based creative marketing firm that has partnered with CSS for years) presented the concept for a disaster relief initiative, and after watching so many families endure unimaginable loss, it became clear that doing nothing was not an option.
From that shared sense of responsibility, CSS Help 500 was born. More than a relief effort, it is a long-term commitment to help at least 500 people rebuild their homes, restore their livelihoods, and regain hope.
To bring this vision to life, CSS in collaboration with a fiscal sponsor to ensure transparency, moved quickly along with its partners to establish a CSS Help 500 Steering Committee, dedicated to the effective delivery of support to the families who need it most.
The initiative has expanded to include Jamaican Government Agencies, faith-based organizations, NGO’s, U.S. and Jamaican universities, certified contractors, professional sports organizations, and community-based groups, all working together toward a singular goal – to restore dignity and hope, and build back a stronger more resilient Jamaica – one family at a time.
Our Vision In Numbers:
5000 Lives Impacted
While directly benefiting 500 Jamaicans
100
Volunteers
Local and international participants
100
Projects Completed
Brighter futures for at least 100 households
Our Mission
In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, CSS Help 500 is part of a united effort to rebuild lives, restore dignity, and strengthen resilience in affected communities across Jamaica. Through partnerships with churches, professional sports teams, diaspora networks, local contractors, corporate sponsors, and grants, the initiative delivers secure roofs, clean water systems, and solar energy solutions to vulnerable families.
Beyond immediate recovery, CSS Help 500 will strengthen and empower communities by offering volunteer training, certification opportunities, and livelihood support for families. Sustained by “Travel With Purpose” packages, Virtual Gospel and Culture concerts, and other fundraising efforts, the initiative fosters hope, unity, and collective action - empowering Jamaicans to rebuild brighter and stronger futures.
Hurricane Melissa
On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the western region of Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds reaching up to 185 mph (≈ 298 km/h). The impact was catastrophic: whole towns in parishes such as St. Elizabeth Parish and Westmoreland Parish were flattened, roofs were torn off en masse, roads were blocked by landslides and fallen trees, and debris piled across communities, making even initial relief operations extremely difficult.
Officials described a level of infrastructure destruction “never seen before” on the island—schools, hospitals, homes and entire communities were rendered uninhabitable or inaccessible.
Key Statistics & Figures
• More than 4.8 million tons of debris were left across western Jamaica, equal to about 480,000 standard truckloads, according to satellite analysis by the United Nations Development Programme. Breakdown: ~2.1 million tons building debris, ~1.3 million tons vegetation, ~1.4 million tons household waste.
• In the hardest‑hit areas, up to 90% of buildings lost their roofs.
• Power outages affected a vast majority of the island: estimates include 72 % or more of Jamaica’s energy customers left without electricity in the immediate aftermath.
• After landfall, tens of thousands of people were displaced or sheltering: preliminary models estimate up to 32,500 people internally displaced in western Jamaica alone.
• The human toll: at least 35 deaths confirmed in Jamaica at early counts; the total count may rise as remote areas are accessed.
• Economic estimates: one source places losses in Jamaica alone at around US $7.7 billion, with wider Caribbean losses between US $48–52 billion.
The Impact & Why It Matters
• Homes and shelter: With roofs gone, flooded interiors and structural damage pervasive, families are left exposed to the elements. Shelters and temporary housing are overwhelmed.
• Basic services disrupted: Power, water, communications and transit systems were knocked out across wide swaths of the island. Delivery of emergency relief is hindered by blocked roads and damaged infrastructure.
• Livelihoods destroyed: Agriculture, fishing, tourism and small business sectors were severely hit. Communities dependent on these income streams now face extended recovery timelines.
• Resilience challenged: The scale of destruction exceeds recent storms and underscores the urgent need for durable, climate‑smart rebuilding and infrastructure investments.
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These statistics articulate the magnitude of the crisis and reinforce why your support to CSS Help 500—focused on roof rehabilitation, water systems, solar power and empowerment—are critically needed.
Snapshots of Impact
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