‘Rebuilding after a storm like this takes time, money, and help’
The devastating recent impact of Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to strike the Caribbean, is still being felt following the destruction of homes across the region.
ShelterBox, the international disaster-relief charity, is helping affected communities in Jamaica.
To help raise continued funds for the charity, Kizamba, the Penzance based Latin and Caribbean Band, is announcing a fundraising concert to support the disaster recovery.
Kizamba will be playing at The Acorn Penzance on Wednesday 10 December, with support from DJ Countryman.
Part of the proceeds from the event will go to ShelterBox. The funds will help to support its ongoing mission to provide emergency shelter and provide essential supplies to families affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The catastrophic Category 5 storm made landfall over New Hope, Jamaica, at the end of October. Wind speeds of 185 mph were reported – with some areas experiencing a storm surge of more than nine feet.
Kat Carr is Kizamba’s lead singer. For her, the catastrophe carries a deeply personal resonance. She recalls witnessing Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 as an 11-year-old in Kingston, Jamaica.
It was classed as a Category 4 storm and it tore through the island where it uprooted trees, flattened homes and left communities without electricity or safe water for weeks.
‘Many people lost everything they owned. The situation is extremely serious.’
‘I’ve told my children stories about Hurricane Gilbert since they were little,’ says Kat. ‘I never imagined they would one day experience an even more powerful hurricane themselves!’
Last month, while visiting her parents in Jamaica, the Carr family found themselves in the path of Hurricane Melissa.
The storm forced the closure of Jamaica’s airports. Kat and her family were evacuated from their hotel to makeshift shelters in the lower ground conference rooms.
They were joined by hundreds of other guests who were staying in the hotel, which was situated on the island’s north coast.
They recall sleeping on repurposed sun loungers – with the wind howling overhead and water seeping down from the increasingly flooded upper floors.
Kat remembers an atmosphere of ‘thoughtfulness, respect, and generosity’ as the guests became acquainted with each other. They played games. They shared snacks. They waited for the hurricane to pass.
Image: Theo Shilton (provided by Kizamba)
The western region of Jamaica suffered catastrophic damage. Kat explains that entire communities became unrecognisable.
‘Many people lost everything they owned. The situation is extremely serious,’ says Kat. ‘I was amazed, just a few days after the hurricane, to hear that ShelterBox would be sending a team to support people affected.’
‘Distributing emergency shelter aid to people’
She praised the swift response from international aid organisations, along with the Government of Jamaica, in preparing and dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane.
Shelterbox is working with partners, such as Food for the Poor and the Rotary Club, in Jamaica, to support thousands of people.
They’re providing shelter kits so families can protect themselves from the weather. Teams are also giving out thermal blankets, mosquito nets, solar lights and water carriers.
‘We have a team in Jamaica distributing emergency shelter aid to people whose homes have been damaged by the hurricane,’ says Dave Raybould, Head of Emergency Responses at ShelterBox.
‘These supplies were shipped from our warehouse in Barbados where we pre-positioned supplies before the hurricane season, so we were ready to go.’
‘We have more aid on the way – we’re sending tarpaulins, rope, and essential aid items from our warehouse in Panama for the next phase of the response.’
Image: Olga Izvekova / Shutterstock
‘Jamaicans are made of the very strongest stuff’
As soon as Kat returned to the UK, she spoke with the ShelterBox team to organise the concert. The charity will open the upcoming Kizamba concert with a presentation on their work in Jamaica.
‘The band and I really wanted to do something to raise awareness and contribute – given our connection to Jamaica and the music we play,’ says Kat.
‘Tim Stirrup, aka DJ Countryman, and Director of the Eco Park Porthtowan and Tropical Pressure Festival, was also keen to get involved.’
‘We decided our final gig of 2025 would be the perfect opportunity to do a community fundraiser.’
Kat says the recovery will likely take a long time and will require resources, resilience – and solidarity.
‘Jamaicans are made of the very strongest stuff, but rebuilding after a storm like this takes time, money, and help from organisations like ShelterBox who are on the ground delivering vital aid. This fundraiser is our way of supporting that life-saving work.’
ShelterBox is a UK-based international disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and essential supplies to families who have lost their homes to conflict or natural disaster.
Its’ teams are currently working across Jamaica to distribute shelter kits and support communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
Breaktime News recently reported on the start of ShelterBox’s urgent Christmas fundraising appeal.
