Stamford, Conn. – Oct. 24, 2025 – Americares is preparing to respond to Tropical Storm Melissa, which is forecast to become a major hurricane in the Caribbean this weekend.
The storm is expected to rapidly intensify by Sunday, bringing damaging winds, landslides and life-threatening flash floods to Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to the National Hurricane Center. A hurricane watch is currently in effect for Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti to the Dominican Republic border.
Americares is reaching out to partner organizations in the path of the storm to offer assistance. Americares is ready to provide critically needed medicines and relief supplies as well as emergency funding to restore health services in affected communities. At the same time, the global health and disaster relief organization is preparing to send an emergency response team to the region. The team plans to deploy as soon as the storm passes and it’s safe to travel.
“With a slow-moving storm like Melissa we are concerned about severe flooding that causes major damage and potentially isolates communities, cutting off access to care,” said Americares Director of Emergency Response Mariel Fonteyn. “We are ready to respond and meet the health needs in the hardest-hit areas.”
Americares responds to more than 35 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. Since its founding more than 45 years ago, Americares has provided more than more than $24 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.
Donations to Americares Hurricane Fund will support its response to the storm. To donate, go to www.americares-sampler.materiell.net/HurricaneRelief
