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Samaritan’s Purse, led by Franklin Grahamhas flown more than 38,000 pounds of emergency supplies to Jamaica after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa struck the island, leaving widespread destruction and thousands homeless.
Less than 48 hours after Melissa made landfall in winds exceeding 185 miles per hour, the North Carolina-based Christian relief organization deployed its Disaster Assistance Response Team and began unloading essential supplies in Kingston.
“Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, leaving tens of thousands of families in desperate need,” Graham told Fox News Digital.
“Entire communities have been torn apart, flooded and left in ruins. For many families, the world has simply collapsed around them. We already have 38,000 pounds of relief supplies and teams on the ground, with more on the way. We want these people to know that God loves them and cares for them. He sees their pain – they are not forgotten.”
A man looks at a fallen tree in St. Catherine, Jamaica, shortly before Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025. (Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images)
Samaritan’s Purse’s first cargo flight, a B757 from the organization’s Airlift Response Center in Greensboro, carried 1,500 family packs full of tarps, ropes, solar lights, jerry cans and water filters. A second flight, a DC-8 jet, is scheduled to depart Friday carrying two community water filtration systems, each capable of providing clean water to 10,000 people daily, as well as additional relief supplies and medical teams.
Edward Graham, the organization’s chief operating officer and son of Franklin Graham, said crews had been preparing before the storm. “Before Hurricane Melissa even hit, our teams were ready and coordinating closely with our church partners in Jamaica“We are preparing supplies and loading our planes,” he said. “Now our disaster response specialists are on site and we are working hard to provide assistance to the affected families.” Please pray for Jamaica and these families who have lost so much.”
The storm hit provide electricity to a large part of the islanddisrupted communications and flooded entire neighborhoods in Jamaica’s southern communities. Airport staff handling the Samaritan’s Purse cargo said it was the first aid shipment to arrive.
Workers load pallets of emergency supplies onto a Samaritan’s Purse cargo jet at the organization’s Airlift Response Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, before taking off for Jamaica. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)
Dave Holzhauer, who leads the organization’s disaster response in Jamaica, described the devastation as “heartbreaking.” “Entire hospitals, schools and homes have been destroyed, and many families who had only just recovered from previous storms are now starting over again,” he said. “Flooding remains high in some communities and the need for hope and practical support is overwhelming. We are working urgently to reach the hardest-hit areas – places still cut off by debris and flooding – with life-saving assistance and the love of Christ.”
The relief effort is being coordinated through Samaritan’s Purse’s with the Jamaican Ministry of Health and more than 250 local church partners Operation Christmas Child Network. Officials say the group is ready to provide mobile medical teams and emergency water systems as hospitals struggle to reopen.
A Samaritan’s Purse employee transports a load of packed supplies to the organization’s hangar in Greensboro before deployment to Jamaica. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)
Vincent Rose, a church partner in southern Jamaica, said many communities remain isolated. “We lost communications early yesterday morning and are still without power – possibly for the coming days,” he said. “It’s very bad on our side. The emergency services are trying to clear the main road so that the emergency renovation can begin. As far as we’re concerned, we’re doing well, albeit with a lot.” Water came into our house after shingles were blown off the roof. Please continue to pray for everyone here as we recover.”
Franklin Graham said Samaritan’s Purse chaplains were trained through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have also joined the effort to provide emotional and spiritual care. “Our mission is to meet physical needs while sharing the hope of Jesus Christ,” he said. “As we deliver supplies and clean water, we also remind families that they are not alone.”
A Samaritan’s Purse B757 cargo plane prepares for departure from Greensboro, North Carolina, carrying 38,000 pounds of relief supplies for hurricane-ravaged Jamaica. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)
Melissa became one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbeanwith winds exceeding 185 miles per hour and widespread flooding and landslides across Jamaica. The hurricane left thousands homeless and triggered a nationwide power outage.
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According to Samaritan’s Purse, additional relief flights are planned in the coming days as crews continue to assess needs. The organization, which has responded to disasters around the world since 1970, is asking for continued prayers and support.
For more information about the organization’s efforts or to donate, visit samaritanspurse.org.
