Original article written by Juboy 🇯🇲
1. Yuh ever wake up and yuh whole world gone?
Picture this: yuh go sleep wid di sound a rain pon di zinc… and yuh wake up and nuh even have a yard again.
Dat a wah happen to Parottee, Black River, when Hurricane Melissa roll through Jamaica and wipe di community clean off di map.
If yuh feel shaken, stressed, or confused ‘bout how fi rebuild afta di storm, yuh not alone.
Nuff Jamaicans a face di same storm trauma right now — flood, destruction, and di kinda rain weh tek people future in one swipe.
But memba dis: Jamaicans always find strength, even when di sea come fi tek we whole life wid it.
Dis article show yuh why Parottee get destroy so bad, wah mistake people keep mek, and how di community can rise again, step by step.
2. Why This Happen – “Di Real Problem Underneath”
Nuff people a seh, “A just Melissa.”
But truth be told? A mix-up cause di disaster.
Root Reason Dem
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Low-lying land: Parottee deh right beside di sea. Once di tide angry, everything done.
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Poor drainage: Rain have nowhere fi run. So it stay, build up, and drown out di place.
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Rapid storm growth: Melissa jump from normal system to beast mode fast — people neva get enough warning.
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River-mouth pressure: Black River swell, buss bank, and tek road, house, boat… everything.
One fisherman tell mi,
“Juboy, mi watch di water a come like it have badmind. Mi cyaan even run cause everywhere flood one time.”
A so serious it be.
3. Misconceptions – “Wah People Keep Getting Wrong”
Myth 1: “Storm nah reach we this year.”
Reality: Climate change nuh business wid Jamaica calendar.
Myth 2: “If mi put up blocks high, mi safe.”
Nope. Flood water love climb.
Height cyaan stop water pressure.
Myth 3: “Mi used to hurricane already.”
But Melissa different.
She behave like category 5 even when dem never call it dat in time.
These mindset trap people in danger.
4. The Solution – “How Fi Rebuild and Protect Again”
Step 1: Secure Wah Left
Pick up documents, zinc, wood, boat pieces — anything yuh can salvage.
Why it work? It lower yuh rebuilding cost.
Step 2: Rebuild Higher and Smarter
Build house pon stilts, concrete base, or raised platform.
Why it work? Flood water cyaan tek weh yuh foundation same way.
Step 3: Community Drain Cleanup
When everybody inna di community help clear mud, seaweed, and garbage, water move easier next storm.
Step 4: Early Warning Groups
Set up a WhatsApp group fi flood alert.
Why it work? One message can save whole life.
5. Deep Dive – Expert Insight (Jamaican Style)
A engineer from St. Elizabeth tell mi:
“Drainage a di biggest weakness. If Parottee get two proper spillway, di community woulda still deh here.”
Climate study also show seh:
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Jamaica storms now have more rain dan wind
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Sea levels raise likkle bit every year
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Low-lying fishing town dem need relocation plan
Dis nuh rumor — a science.
6. Real-Life Case Study – “Before & After Parottee”
Before Melissa
✔ Boats line up pon di beach
✔ Family yard clean
✔ Elder dem sit down a talk story
✔ Tourist pass through fi di peaceful vibe
After Melissa
❌ House gone
❌ Boats mash up like paper
❌ Sand bury road
❌ People lef wid only di clothes pon dem back
One mother cry and tell mi:
“Mi live yah 32 year. A di fus mi see water tek house like thief inna di night.”
But she still stand strong — a true Jamaican warrior.
7. Mistakes to Avoid
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Don’t rebuild in di same exact spot if di sea tek it once.
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Don’t wait last minute fi move during storm warning.
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Don’t depend only on gov’t — community action faster.
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Don’t skip insurance — even a basic plan help.
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Don’t store valuables low — storm nuh negotiate.
8. Alternatives & FAQ – “Who Dis Help, and Who It Nah Help?”
Who benefit from dis guide?
✔ Fisherman
✔ Coastline families
✔ Small business owner
✔ People in flood-prone area
Who it nah work for?
People who refuse fi relocate even when di land a sink.
Sometimes start fresh safer dan fight nature.
FAQ
Q: Parottee can rebuild?
A: Yes — but wid NEW design.
Q: More storms coming?
A: Jamaica hurricane season only get hotter.
Q: Who helping?
A: Whole heap organization, plus locals wid heart.
9. Quick Action Plan – “Wah Yuh Can Do Right Now”
✔ Step 1
Take picture of all damage (insurance + proof).
✔ Step 2
Join or create a community emergency group.
✔ Step 3
Start a rebuilding fund — even if a $200 each week.
10. Conclusion – “Jamaicans Bend, But We Never Break”
Hurricane Melissa mash up Parottee bad — real destruction, flooding, and pain.
But Jamaicans have a spirit so powerful, even storm fraid a we.
From Black River to Parottee, we ago rise again.
Cause every time rain try drown we, Jamaica bounce back stronger.
11. Call to Action – “Share Di Truth”
If yuh care ‘bout Jamaica future,
share dis article,
drop a comment,
and tell a next Jamaican how fi stay safe.
Wi all inna dis together. 🇯🇲💛💚🖤
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