Together for Jordan

When Hurricane Melissa struck Whitehouse, Westmoreland, it brought widespread devastation. Homes were destroyed, families were displaced, and critical infrastructure collapsed. Yet amid this catastrophic damage, some residents faced compounded crises. For thirteen-year-old Jordan, a young boy managing type 1 diabetes, the storm didn't just destroy property. It disrupted the life-sustaining systems he depends on daily.

For children like Jordan, the impact was particularly severe. The hurricane didn't simply knock down power lines and damage homes. It disrupted the delicate, life-sustaining balance that children managing type 1 diabetes depend on every single day. Access to refrigeration for insulin storage, reliable electricity for medical devices, and the ability to maintain consistent care routines are not luxuries for these children. They are absolute necessities.

Without electricity, Jordan had no way to properly refrigerate his insulin, which must be stored in cool temperatures to remain effective. His mother bought bags of ice whenever she could find them, storing the medication in an igloo on their verandah. With many stores shuttered and ice becoming scarce, this makeshift solution was failing, his life-saving medication risked losing its potency with each passing day.

Among the supplies donated was something that addressed the root of Jordan's crisis, a generator. Without electricity, Jordan had no way to properly refrigerate his insulin, which must be stored in cool temperatures to remain effective. In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with power lines destroyed and repairs stretching into uncertain weeks ahead, electricity had become more than a convenience. It meant the ability to charge phones for emergency communication, to power lights after dark, to run essential appliances. For Jordan's family, it meant one less impossibility to navigate, one less source of daily stress.

Boxes of food were also donated, essential meals to help Jordan return to the six meals a day his body needs to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Since Hurricane Melissa, he had been eating far less, his parents unable to navigate the chaos of crowds fighting over scarce supplies. "After the storm, people have been fighting over food, and because of this my parents won't get any because they don't like the shame," Jordan had explained. 

Books and toys for Jordan’s younger sisters brought smiles and laughter, a response to his heartfelt appeal that support extend to his family as well. In the chaos of managing a chronic illness during a crisis, the needs of other children in the household can easily be overlooked. But the Salazar family and friends understood that supporting Jordan meant supporting his entire family. These represented affirmations of childhood, reminders that even in the darkest times, children deserve moments of joy, learning and normalcy. Jordan had remembered to ask for these things for his sisters even when his own needs were dire and now, his newfound community was honouring that selflessness, ensuring that every member of his family felt valued and cared for.

The books donated represented something essential that disasters often steal from children, the continuity of learning and the escape that stories provide. With schools disrupted and routines shattered, books offer a sense of normalcy and a pathway back to structure. For Jordan's sisters, who had witnessed their brother's health crisis and their parents' stress, reading provides comfort and a way to process difficult emotions and remember that their education, their imagination, and their future still matter.

Among the donated items was the "Be Prepared! Activity Guide on Disaster Preparedness, Prevention & Protection for Children and Youth" a resource designed by UNICEF Jamaica specifically for young people aged 10 to 17. This colourful, interactive guide combines emergency instructions with empowering children to understand their rights during disasters, teaching them practical skills to reduce risks in their communities and transforming them from passive victims into active participants in their own protection. 

For Jordan and his sisters, who have lived through Hurricane Melissa's devastation, the guide shows them how to prepare for future storms, what to do during emergencies and how to help their family and community build resilience. In Jamaica, where hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes are recurring threats, teaching children disaster preparedness is life-saving. Children who understand emergency protocols experience less anxiety during crises and can become powerful advocates for preparedness in their own households, often bringing critical safety messages home to parents and siblings.

Jordan’s crisis is a stark reminder of the countless challenges still facing families across Western Jamaica. As communities work to rebuild homes, restore livelihoods and reclaim stability after Hurricane Melissa, his story offers more than just hope; it is a clear blueprint that proves what is possible when a community unites to meet a need.

This essential collaboration between families, community groups like T1D Together Jamaica and partners like UNICEF is the foundation upon which long-term, lasting resilience must be built.