Police On Front Line During Hurricane Melissa Gets Help To Replace Parents’ Roof

While Sergeant Albert Simpson was on the front line in Black River during Hurricane Melissa, safeguarding lives and property, his parents were losing the roof of their house hundreds of kilometres away.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) sub-officer in charge of traffic for St. Elizabeth, tells JIS News that he was stationed at the Black River Police Station, during and several days after the storm, where he witnessed firsthand. the devastation caused by the category five system.

St. Elizabeth was one of the parishes most severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

“We were there from the day before and five days after. The station had floodwaters more than knee high,” he recalls.

“We were not able to communicate with our family members. We had to just drive around and try to rescue people from rising waters and buildings that were destroyed,” he says.

With communication down across sections of the parish, Sergeant Simpson tells JIS News that he had no way of knowing whether his parents were safe.

On the Friday, four days after Melissa, he decided to brave some high waters through Fullerswood to reach his parents’ home in Melsham in Red Bank.

He had to borrow a vehicle as his motorcar, which was parked at the Black River Police Station was damaged during the hurricane.

“When I reached [home], I realized that there was no roof on my parents’ house,” he shares, noting that his mother had also lost her phone during Melissa.

Sergeant Simpson’s act of sacrifice has been met with profound gratitude and reward, as the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North in partnership with United States (US)-based health and fitness firm KR Method, delivered construction materials to fully replace the roof of the Simpson family home.

Relief and gratitude now replace that initial feeling of devastation as the family begins the process of rebuilding.

“I feel very appreciative of this help from the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North and KR Method,” Sergeant Simpson tells JIS News.

“I really appreciate their help. I thank them very much because I know I could not do it on my own,” he says.

President of the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North, Pierpont Wilson, says the intervention was deliberate and values-driven. He says that the organisation was pleased to source the supplies which are worth approximately $1 million.

“We did our community assessment and recognised that this family was in need, especially because the son of this family is a civil servant for our country. He was giving service to our country when the hurricane passed and his family’s home was damaged significantly,” Mr. Wilson shares.

He adds that the initiative reflects Rotary’s core mission.

“What better way to encourage our civil servants and Jamaicans generally to rise and rebuild than starting with those who do their best every day?,” he asked.

“We’re not rebuilding with zinc again. We’re doing it more resilient, putting on a concrete roof. That is the whole mantra of Rotary; service above self. We are people of action,” he adds.

Founder of KR Method, Korey Rowe, said the project has personal meaning.

“St. Elizabeth is where I grew up, and that community [Melsham] is a neighbouring one to mine. We wanted to identify someone whose damage was significant enough for full restoration,” he tells JIS News, noting that the funds were secured through crowdfunding and support from overseas partners such as the Apex Foundation and Ajenda.

Mr. Rowe says Sergeant Simpson stood out by his service.

“Sometimes, the people who are helping others aren’t getting help themselves. Their son is a member of the JCF and he has been on the front line. We felt compelled to support someone who has been supporting so many others,” he notes.

For Sergeant Simpson’s mother, Jennifer Simpson, the experience has been overwhelming in the best way.

“Hurricane Melissa was awful. Mi even tell mi grandson that him not to get no girlfriend wid di name Melissa, terrible storm man,” she jokes.

Despite the loss, Mrs. Simpson says she is sustained by her faith.

“We have life, and mi seh to myself, God know di whole reason. God take it off [roof] and Him know how fi put it back on. “Me don’t worry myself, but mi overwhelmed by the help we get today, very overwhelmed,” she says.

“I was expecting two bag a cement, but I never expected plywood and steel. I am shocked,” she says.

“Mi lose mi TV and dresser and other things but I have life. Mi really grateful to the Rotary Club and KR Method,” she adds.

The day of the donation, on December 19, coincided with a personal milestone for the Simpsons. “Today is mi wedding anniversary, so dis really special,” she says.

Allan Simpson echoed his wife’s sentiments.

“Mi thank God seh mi a get help. We really needed the help and get it. When yuh lose yuh roof, bwoy, it not sweet fi sleep in another man house. Man can sleep anywhere, but woman love dem house. So again, we thank God for the help from di Rotary Club of St. Andrew North and KR Method,” he says.