Additional Coverage:
- My family sheltered in our home while Hurricane Melissa raged outside. I kept my routine for my 2 daughters, but some rules went out the window. (businessinsider.com)
Local Family Rides Out Hurricane Melissa in Jamaican Mountains with Calm and Cookies
KINGSTON, Jamaica – As Hurricane Melissa lashed Jamaica, one family in the Blue Mountains outside Kingston found themselves weathering the intense storm with a full house, a deep freezer, and a remarkable commitment to calm amidst the chaos. Ines Pacheco, along with her husband, two young daughters (ages 4 and 6), their nanny and her two children, a community gardener, and even a dog and cat, hunkered down in their sturdy concrete home.
Pacheco, who also runs a school lunch service, had a fortuitous abundance of food supplies, which she quickly repurposed to feed their eight-person, multi-generational household. Despite the “very scary” and “intense” conditions, Pacheco’s primary focus has been on maintaining a sense of normalcy and safety for the children.
“We don’t sugarcoat it as a little rainstorm, but we keep it age-appropriate,” Pacheco explained. Having experienced Hurricane Beryl last year, the children were somewhat familiar with storm preparations, but Melissa proved to be a far more formidable foe. The family had been preparing the children for days, discussing the “scary sounds” and “bad weather” to expect, and emphasizing the importance of staying calm and listening to directions.
One of the comforting aspects of their experience, Pacheco noted, is the strong community spirit in Jamaica. Neighbors, even those with less protected homes, were checking in on each other through a community chat, sharing updates on road conditions and offering support.
With the heavy rains beginning on Friday and unrelenting wind gusts picking up on Saturday, the family anticipates being housebound for a week or more. To combat the fear, Pacheco has maintained a strict routine, especially for meals.
“On weekends at home, we like to sit down for meals together three times a day, so we’re doing that now,” she said. This consistent schedule, coupled with the presence of older children, has transformed the challenging situation into a “fun” experience for the younger girls, according to Pacheco.
While device time is rationed due to intermittent power outages, the family embraces board games like Uno and Bananagrams. However, Pacheco admits that some rules have gone out the window.
“If they want chocolate cookies at 8 a.m., fine. We’re all just trying to survive,” she quipped.
Despite her own moments of “throwing up from fear,” Pacheco projects an unwavering calm for the children. “If they see me scared, they’ll be scared,” she emphasized.
“So I tell them, ‘We’re OK. People are protecting each other.'”
As they continue to mop up water, cook meals, and play games, Pacheco expresses pride in her “tiny troopers” and their resilience. The family remains vigilant, awaiting updates, checking on neighbors, and patiently waiting for Hurricane Melissa to finally pass.