Hello, I, Chris Ridgard of of Ann Arbor, Michigan, was with my family in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, when Hurricane Beryl struck in 2024. The storm raged through and passed. Terrifying as it was, we were largely unscathed. Being seasoned residents of the Antilles we endured a few days of inconvenience—no electricity, no water—and went on our way. I returned to Ann Arbor and after not too long life was more or less back to normal in Runaway Bay.

Melissa was a different story. She raked across Jamaica’s western flank, leaving devastation in her wake. My family home, where my father and aunt live today, has been devastated. The house’s roof has largely been blown away and consequently its interior is in shambles.

Restoring this home to livability is the goal of this effort. My family and I would be grateful for any help you could offer to help repair our home.

Ann Arbor is a long ways from Derry District in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, but your help and the help of others can reach and will go a long way toward recovery.

When I received an email from my sister in Jamaica, I was shocked to see that my dad and aunt had been on the news:

Ridgards in Jamaica