North Carolina relief ready to aid Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall

GREENSBORO, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Relief is on the way to Jamaica as residents brace for potential devastation from Hurricane Melissa.

Samaritan’s Purse is preparing to send emergency supplies to the island, with the first flight scheduled to depart on Wednesday morning. Crews are currently loading 13 aircraft pallets filled with survival kits onto a plane. The initial shipment is expected to support 1,650 families.

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“We have no idea what we’re going to expect to see on the ground,” said James Vechery, director of mission aviation services for Samaritan’s Purse. “However, we know that there’s going to be devastation, so we’re just trying to prepare ourselves for that so we can take exactly what’s going to be needed to help in this tragedy.”

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Each aircraft bears a cross, symbolizing the organization’s faith-based mission and a reminder that Jesus is the cross in the center of the storm, ready to help.

Samaritan’s Purse is in communication with leaders in Jamaica and says it is prepared to deploy its emergency field hospital if needed. With only two airports currently available for landing, crews will assess conditions before departure, but the plan remains to fly out on Wednesday at 10 a.m.