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, Project Administrator
Our Story
The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa left the western parishes of Jamaica in ruins - over 35 lives lost, more than 30,000 homes destroyed, thousands of livlioods disrupted, and families struggling to survive and rebuild.
As a Tennessee based, US Army veteran owned construction and manufacturing support firm, CSS as long worked alongside hundreds of Jamaicans - through its operations providing invaluable training, acclimation, and employment opporunities. Watching so many of their external families face immainable loss, meant that inaction was not an option.
From a shared sense of responsibility, CSS and its Jamaican partners at CAP Media, conceptualized the CSS Help 500 initiative and moved quickly to establisn a Steering Committee to implement the project with fiscal partners at ____. The structure ensures transparency and effective delivery of support to the families who need it most. It is a long term commitment to help at least 500 people rebuild their homes, restore their livelihood, and regain hope.
Jamaican Government agencies (including its national skills certification body), faith-based oragnizations, NGOs, USA and Jamaica based universities, certified contractors, and community based organizations have all been invited to advice the Steering Committee. Participants will all work together toward a singular goal - to rebuild stronger communities and restore dignity and hope one family at a time.
5000
Lives Impacted
While directly benefiting 500 Jamaicans
50
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 empowers communities through volunteer training and certification programs and family livelihood support. Funded through initiatives such as “Travel To Work” packages Virtual Gospel & Culture Concerts, and other fundraising activities, the project inspires hope, solidarity, and collective action—helping Jamaicans build back brighter, 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 tonnes 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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