Dundee Mayor Collaborates with Christian Disaster Response to Aid Jamaica

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LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — For Samuel Pennant, the mayor of Dundee in Polk County, the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica hits close to home.

“I have not been able to directly reach out to anyone,” Pennant expressed with concern.

Originally from Jamaica, Pennant still has deep connections there, with family and friends residing on the island.

As Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday morning as a Category 3 storm, the effects on Jamaica were profound.

“I’m not from the well-known cities like Kingston or Montego Bay. I come from the rural areas,” Pennant explained, highlighting the unique challenges these regions face.

He acknowledged that recovery will be a long process for Jamaica, particularly due to the destruction of farmlands and the anticipated decline in tourism. These factors are likely to hinder the island’s economic recovery significantly.

Pennant is asking his Tampa Bay neighbors to help and partner with reputable organizations to help his family and friends, along with the people he doesn’t know in Jamaica.

“We’re going to need food, clothing, volunteers,” Pennant said.

Relief groups like Christian Disaster Response are stepping up. Ron Patterson is leading the group’s effort to help.

“You see the news. The situation is terrible. It needs help and it’s going to need help for some time,” Patterson said.

Patterson is helping collect self-heating meals, supplies for cleaning and medical, along with volunteers to spend up to three weeks on the ground. First time volunteers will fund their own travel, but training, housing, and meals will be covered by the organization.

“This is not our first response to Jamaica. We were there in Hurricane Gilbert back in 88,” Patterson said. “We know the lay of the land, and we have people there we can work with.”

Pennant hopes the work that groups are doing will help fuel the island’s economic engines, tourism and farming.

“There’s lots of other plant life that is going to be dead for a while. Tourism is going to be curtailed so much for a while,” Pennant said.

For more information, click here. Mayor Pennant can also be reached by email at SPennant@TownofDundee.com.