LTC 454-2025 Supporting Jamaica and the Caribbean Islands Impacted by Hurricane MelissaMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter, City Manager f;uc_ �
LTC #454-2025
TO:
FROM:
DATE: October 31, 2025
SUBJECT: Supporting Jamaica and the Caribbean Islands Impacted by Hurricane Melissa
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC) is to inform you of the City of Miami Beach's
coordinated effort to support Jamaica and other Caribbean islands impacted by Hurricane Melissa,
a catastrophic Category 5 storm that made landfall earlier this week with sustained winds of 185
mph. The storm resulted in widespread destruction, including landslides, flooding, power outages,
and significant damage to homes and infrastructure across the region.
In response, the City is launching a citywide donation drive to collect urgently needed supplies for
Jamaica and the affected Caribbean islands. All four Miami Beach fire stations will serve as
collection sites through the end of November. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to
contribute the following essential items:
•Tarps
•Water
•Flashlights
•Batteries
•Large trash bags
•Tents
•Work gloves
•Canned goods (minimum one-year shelf life)
•Solar-powered lights
•Hygiene kits
•Baby diapers
•First-aid kits
Please note that used clothing and linens will not be accepted.
All collected items will be delivered to the Global Empowerment Mission, which is coordinating
logistics and distribution. Monetary donations may be made directly to the American Red Cross or
the Jamaican Government Hurricane Relief and Recovery Fund. Volunteers are also welcome to
assist with the relief effort.
For more information, including fire station locations and donation guidelines, please
visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/JamaicaRelief.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to assist our neighbors in need.