Vue lecture

Jamaica Prepared a Financial Fortress for Disaster. Hurricane Melissa Will Test It.

All of Jamaica’s financial defenses — insurance, bonds and credit lines — could be deployed to recover from Hurricane Melissa. Will it be enough?

© Abbie Townsend for The New York Times

Hurricane Melissa destroyed crop fields, homes and businesses, bringing rains that washed away trees, roads and cars.
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Amid Flattened Homes, Jamaica Starts to Assess Hurricane Melissa’s Damage

The Jamaican authorities said they were not able to confirm the death toll from the storm yet, but expected it to rise in the coming days. At least 30 people died in Haiti, officials said.

© Matias Delacroix/Associated Press

Black River, the capital of St. Elizabeth’s Parish in southwestern Jamaica. The town was severely damaged, officials said.
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