NHC has issued its last advisory on Melissa as the now non-tropical system blasts by Vinland (Nova Scotia) …
It’s going to be a while before we have reliable damage tallies or impact numbers. Parts of Jamaica got hit hard, as did Cuba and Haiti – we are still in the rescue phase, the recovery phase is still days away.
If you want to contribute to disaster relief, there are a lot of organizations fund raising over the impacts, be careful and check out any you don’t have experience with. The best are often smaller local or faith based, but there is so much corruption out there at all levels (and it’s a moving target) it’s frustrating some times to recommend one over another. Sites that evaluate charities might be helpful, Charity Watch might be helpful, Charity Navigator has come under fire (link), but seems to be still a valuable tool for assessing the finances of various groups. I wish I could be more helpful but I’m no longer working in the Caribbean or disaster mitigation world so have lost touch.
Since it’s Halloween, here is the greatest Vampire song of all time …
Happy Halloween, Enki!
Regarding disaster relief, Samaritans Purse is a great organization that can provide disaster relief, recovery/rebuild and medical assistance. I am volunteering for rebuilding in W NC this year. We will be there for a while. I know for a fact that they are staging cargo plans now for Jamaica.
Btw, thank you for what you do! You are an asset to our community!