The City of Hoboken is taking immediate action to assist its partner city, Montego Bay, Jamaica, following Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm the most powerful hurricane to impact Jamaica in recent history
“We have been in frequent communication with Mayor Richard Vernon of Montego Bay and his team since Friday, as the community faced the full force of this catastrophic storm,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “Our thoughts are with the people of Montego Bay and all of Jamaica as they confront this unprecedented disaster. We are working closely with our partners to prepare post-storm technical assistance and recovery support to aid our friends and partners in their time of greatest need.”
Last year, Hoboken and Montego Bay signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the ICLEI World Congress in São Paulo, Brazil, as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Cities Forward initiative. Although the federal government has since discontinued the Cities Forward program, Hoboken and Montego Bay remain committed to their sister city relationship and to advancing climate resiliency and sustainability through collaboration and mutual support.
“As Hurricane Melissa’s impact on Montego Bay is still being evaluated, we are coordinating to mobilize immediate resources and expertise,” said Mayor Bhalla. “This storm represents both a humanitarian crisis and a clear warning of the escalating impacts of the global climate emergency. The people of Hoboken can understand the lasting toll of such disasters because we experienced Superstorm Sandy, which was only a Category 1 storm when it struck Hoboken. We stand ready to help Montego Bay recover and rebuild, and we reaffirm our shared commitment to a more resilient and sustainable future.”
Community members can donate now to provide relief through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at https://www.ifrc.org/.
