‘Very worried’: BC woman fears for family as Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica
While stressing about the safety of her family as Hurricane Melissa Hits, Surrey, BC’s wife hopes that the Jamaican community will come together to help people on the Caribbean Island rebuild their lives.
Janice Davis is the owner of Royals Jerk Spot Drive-Thru and Royals Beauty – Next Door to each other – on 105a Avenue in Whalley.
Worried and unable to sleep, Davis said he closed both businesses Tuesday, but planned to open his restaurant to the Jamaican community as members waited for news from their loved ones.
“I’m really worried about the people coming home,” Davis told World News in an interview.
Hoves’ hometown of Rocky Point was under a mandatory evacuation order, as the storm, which has the potential to hit Jamaica since the recording began.
While his mother had moved to higher ground, Davis said his two brothers, sister and nephew lived in a small fishing village on the southern coast of Clarendon Parish.
The World Meteorological Organization said Typhoon Melissa is likely to bring high winds, flooding and lightning, marking the worst storm to hit Jamaica this century.
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Davis said her sister wishes she hadn’t been able to avoid the category 5 storm.
“I told him to go. I begged him, we all begged him,” he said on Wednesday. “Now he is awake because the water is coming in.”
Heavy flooding flooded Jamaica southwest of the city, winds tore roofs from buildings and many trees, and it was reported that the ends of Melissa’s power had destroyed the Caribbean island.
“I think you can see how dangerous it is,” said Davis, who is concerned about people losing their properties and livelihoods.
“These people who come back will probably not have a home,” he said.
Davis said Jamaica is still recovering from Typhoon Beryl, which grazed the southern coast of the island in July 2024, causing many deaths.
“It’s our job to help people at home,” he said. “That’s why we came to Canada, so we could (a) better life to help the good one at home.”
Fearing many Jamaicans will be homeless, Davis organizes a Gransroots campaign through his restaurant, which doubles as a community center.
He encourages the local Caribbean community to help with non-perishable items and money donations to send home.
“It’s very important to me to give back,” Davis told the World News. “Because I know what it’s like to not have it, even if my business is struggling, it’s because of the community why I have this place today.”
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