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In a welcome sight at Tampa International Airport on Saturday night, a second plane carrying American evacuees from Jamaica touched down safely, according to Grey Bull Rescue. The relief was palpable as these individuals finally returned home.
Last week, hundreds of Americans were stranded in Jamaica when Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 5 storm, unleashed its fury on the island. The hurricane, noted as one of the most powerful ever to emerge in the Atlantic, left widespread devastation in its wake across the northern Caribbean region.
The storm’s impact has been severe, with nearly 50 fatalities reported so far. Officials expect this grim tally to rise as recovery efforts continue and more areas become accessible.
Tampa’s Grey Bull Rescue, founded by a veteran with both Army and Navy service, stepped up to facilitate the return of these stranded Americans. Utilizing donations, the non-profit organization arranged the evacuation flights. Grey Bull Rescue is known for its swift response to natural disasters and conflict zones, particularly when government assistance is unavailable.
The first group of evacuees, numbering 170, arrived in Tampa late on Friday night. However, due to logistical challenges at Kingston’s airport and subsequent delays, the second flight, carrying over 130 passengers, only managed to land on Saturday night, hours past the initially expected arrival time.
In total, more than 300 Americans were brought back home.
A spokesperson for Grey Bull Rescue noted the struggles faced by the rescued Americans over the last few days.
“It’s been a long and difficult journey for these evacuees — days without electricity, communication, or reliable access to food and water.”
Vaughn Herter, one of the Americans to return home thanks to Grey Bull, said he and a few hundred others were attending a wedding in Montego Bay.
“We ended up being in a structure that the roof ended up being torn off the building and the ceiling collapsed on us while we were in there,” Herter told local reporters at the Tampa airport.
“It was the scariest moment of, I think, all of our lives, so we’re just grateful to be here,” Alyssa Lawrence added.