Falmouth Hospital Flooded, Patients Evacuated During Hurricane Melissa

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the regional hospital in Falmouth, Jamaica, is still reeling from the devastating impact. Just last month, on October 10th, the hospital was flooded as the storm surge swept across the mangroves and into the facility.

Donna-Marie Hamilton-Wallace, the head of nursing at the hospital, was on duty during the crisis. "It was devastating for the patients and the staff," she recalled. "The lower level was flooded, and we had to create a human chain to evacuate them to the higher level. It was frightening, but I'm glad patients and staff are all okay."

The morning after the storm hit, orderlies were seen clearing rubble from the hospital buildings, having gone without sleep for days as they faced an insurmountable challenge. The coastal road leading to the hospital was also affected, with standing water and sewage creating a moat-like barrier around the town.