Durrant Pate/Contributor

E-commerce giant Amazon has donated a suite of portable technology solutions to power and connect hospitals, police stations and emergency operations in Jamaica, as part of its commitment to help Caribbean communities recover from Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes in history.

In a post on its social media page, the American-based company says, “This marks the first time Amazon has delivered its new disaster relief technology outside of the US. The milestone flight landed today (Thursday) in Kingston with 2,500 pounds of solar-fueled batteries along with satellite-powered Wi-Fi connectors. Amazon’s disaster relief tech solutions previously supported Hurricane Helene and California wildfire recovery.”

After Hurricane Melissa caused widespread devastation across western Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28, much of the area is expected to face weeks to months without power. Amazon’s nonprofit partners requested tech solutions to power their lifesaving operations, including providing healthcare to injured survivors, delivering meals to displaced families, and saving homes from further damage. The tech relief is one part of Amazon’s larger Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. 

In response to Hurricane Melissa, Amazon is also serving as a technology advisor to help communities restore power and internet connectivity as soon as possible. Emergency donations from Amazon are being coordinated for delivery by ocean and air.

Detailing emergency supplies

More than 150,000 emergency supplies—including urgently needed tarps, generators, water filters, and hygiene kits—have also been donated from Amazon’s Disaster Relief hub near Atlanta. The hub is stocked year-round with relief supplies so Amazon can help nearby disaster-impacted communities as quickly as possible. Amazon operates 15 Disaster Relief hubs around the world to help when disasters strike.

Amazon’s Head of Disaster Relief, Abe Diaz, commented, “Amazon is working with multiple nonprofit partners to ensure communities in Jamaica get the help they need. To share a sense of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, almost no building in Black River is standing or protected by a roof after the storm, including homes, the library, and the school. To get aid where it’s needed, roads must be cleared, space for emergency supplies must be found, and specific needs must be assessed. The recovery effort for the Caribbean will take many hands, and being part of this global effort represents the very best of Amazon.” 

Getting food where it’s needed is another way Amazon is helping after Hurricane Melissa. Amazon donated warehouse space near Tampa, Florida, to the nonprofit Operation BBQ Relief. The e-commerce giant is reporting that the warehouse is now buzzing with activity as the nonprofit prepares more than 180,000 meals for hurricane-impacted families in Jamaica. Donations from its distribution facility have transformed the relief effort from aspiration to reality. The warehouse space, dock access, and infrastructure provided mean that thousands of Jamaican families who desperately need support can be reached. Every meal kit assembled here represents hope, nourishment, and dignity for people facing crisis.

Since 2017, Amazon has donated and delivered more than 26 million emergency supplies and shared lifesaving technology in response to more than 200 hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. Amazon is working closely with UN agencies and other first responders to ensure communities in Jamaica and the Caribbean have the emergency supplies and technological resources needed to recover as quickly as possible from Hurricane Melissa, which left death and destruction in its wake.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall last week, Tuesday, in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, the strongest to directly hit the island since records began and the most powerful storm in the world this year.