Hurricane Melissa Traps Texas Family in Jamaican Resort

Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall
Sheltering in Place at Beaches Negril
Staff’s Calm Amid Chaos
After the Storm: Trees in Hot Tubs
The Emotional Weight of Survival
Sources

Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall

Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm ever recorded to hit Jamaica, slammed into the island’s southwestern coast in late October 2025, bringing catastrophic winds, torrential rain, and widespread destruction. Among those caught in its path was a Texas family celebrating a milestone birthday at the Beaches Negril resort—a Sandals property on Jamaica’s famed west coast.

Alicia Rampy, a 54-year-old travel adviser from Fort Worth, had brought four family members—including her 7-year-old grandson—to mark his birthday. What began as a dream vacation quickly turned into a high-stakes survival story as airports shuttered and flights were canceled island-wide.

Sheltering in Place at Beaches Negril

With no way to evacuate, the Rampy family, along with other guests, prepared to ride out Hurricane Melissa at the all-inclusive resort. In the days leading up to landfall, staff held regular briefings while maintaining a surprising sense of normalcy.

“I understood the gravity of the situation,” Rampy later recalled. On the eve of the storm, guests were encouraged to take buffet food back to their rooms—just in case. The next morning, as sideways rain began pelting the resort, staff delivered hot breakfasts door-to-door: eggs, bacon, French toast, waffles, and orange juice.

The family’s adjoining beachfront rooms offered a surreal front-row view of nature’s fury. They fortified one window with a mattress and bed frame. Her grandson built a cozy fort, watching movies on a tablet as winds howled outside.

Hurricane Melissa’s Power vs. Texas Tornadoes

Rampy, accustomed to Texas tornadoes, noted a key difference: “A tornado is quick. This was hours and hours of relentless rain like you’ve never seen.”

Staff’s Calm Amid Chaos

Despite the storm’s intensity, the resort’s backup generator kept power disruptions to under 10 seconds. Internet went down around 1:30 p.m.—during peak winds—but guests never felt unsafe.

What moved Rampy most was the staff’s dedication. “You never feel more like an entitled American,” she said, “knowing these workers might be losing their own homes—yet they’re in raincoats bringing you steak and fish for dinner.”

Of the 130 staff members who volunteered to stay through the hurricane, none left guests wanting. Sandals confirmed that no guests or employees were injured across its eight Jamaican properties.

After the Storm: Trees in Hot Tubs

By 8:30 a.m. the next day, guests and staff were already clearing debris. By 10 a.m., one pool reopened. “It was almost like business as usual,” Rampy said, “except there are trees in hot tubs.”

Outside the resort, the devastation was severe—roofs torn off, streets flooded, buildings flattened—particularly in southwestern parishes. Officials are still assessing the death toll.

The Emotional Weight of Survival

It wasn’t until Wednesday—days after the storm—that Rampy allowed herself to process the fear she’d suppressed. “I very much understood that a Category 5 hurricane making landfall while we were on a beach resort could be catastrophic,” she admitted.

Yet her faith in Jamaica remains unshaken. A frequent visitor—over 50 trips—she’s already booked her next stay for December. “I will never stop coming to Jamaica,” she said. “The resilience, heart, and compassion of the Jamaican people are unmatched.”