Hope After the Storm

Help Caribbean Communities Recover From Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa was the strongest storm ever to hit Jamaica, affecting more than 2.8 million residents. Local authorities, international partners, and relief organizations are quickly mobilizing resources and volunteers. Our hearts are with the people of Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean, and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and its partners are working to amplify support for those affected.

Operators Without Borders (OWB), a WEF Charity of Choice, is deploying a Rapid Assessment Team to Jamaica. The organization is accepting donations to help pay expenses for their volunteers who respond to help communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. WEF is donating $5,000 to assist with those needs and encourages everyone to give what they can to help.

To support relief efforts, donations can be made directly to Operators Without Borders, using the "General" option in the donation dropdown menu. You can also use the QR code below. Your generosity will help provide immediate disaster assistance for communities in need.  

Donate to Victims of Hurricane Melissa

WEF Board of Trustees President Keith Hobson shared, In moments like these, our collective strength lies in compassion and action. We are committed to supporting the people in the affected regions and encourage everyone in the water community to contribute however they can.” 

For more information on how the water sector—and WEF members—help support communities after natural disasters, WEF's Water Environment & Technology magazine featured the following stories:

• (Re)building a Community  (April 2025 WEF Member Spotlight)
  Profile of WEF’s Puerto Rico MA and their work on Hurricane Maria (2017) recovery 

• Asheville’s Rapid Recovery  (February 2025)
  Story of how water professionals restored services after Hurricane Helene

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alyson Moses, WEF Managing Director, Marketing and Communications, (954) 562-7023 | amoses@wef.org

 

About WEF

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization providing water professionals with the latest in education and training. WEF is leading the transformation to the Circular Water Economy: reducing waste, recovering resources, and regenerating ecosystems. Founded in 1928, WEF's mission is to inspire its 31,000 members and 75 affiliated member organizations and the water community in pursuit of human and environmental wellbeing. WEFTEC, WEF’s premiere event, is the largest annual water quality exhibition in North America attracting a diverse, global audience. More than 20,000 registrants and 1,000 exhibitors convene at WEFTEC to experience innovative solutions and gain expert insights that positively impact the future of water. For more information, visit wef.org.