After it being the strongest and most devastating storm to hit the country, Hurricane Melissa now ranks as the costliest, with loss and damages, according to the PIOJ (Planning Institute of Jamaica) exceeding $2trillion.
With it said to be several billions more than previously projected, PIOJ Director General Dr Wayne Henry, said that updated records show the Category Five system caused losses four times greater than those for Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. The findings were derived from a comprehensive damage and loss assessment (DaLA) the PIOJ said has been prepared by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica.
It examined three broad areas spanning the social and productive sectors as well as infrastructure. “Damage, losses and additional cost associated with the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025, was estimated at $1.952 trillion (US$12.232 billion),” Dr. Henry (pic) stated.
“This is equivalent to 56.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024. This figure represents more than four times that of Hurricane Gilbert — previously the costliest hurricane in Jamaica’s history.” He said that the depth and duration of this current shock is contingent on the timing of the implementation of major initiatives to support the humanitarian and economic recovery activities.
The PIOJ Director General outlined: “The use of social protection initiatives is critical in mitigating the impacts of shocks on the most vulnerable.
“As demonstrated in 2024, when the impact of adverse shocks on the vulnerable was tempered by targeted social protection measures, a similar approach is now being implemented to ensure that efforts are placed on identifying and releasing appropriate assistance to the most vulnerable.” He emphasised that the recovery process will be “a marathon”, requiring stamina, strength and resilience.
A damage and loss assessment report on the full impact of Hurricane Melissa, led by the PIOJ with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), was set to be completed in late December. However, an interim Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) assessment undertaken by the World Bank has indicated that Jamaica sustained US$8.8 billion in physical damage from the hurricane.
