Kingston, Jamaica — 3 January 2026
Jamaica’s exposure to extreme weather events, highlighted most recently by the impact of Hurricane Melissa in late 2025, has renewed scrutiny of how prepared the country’s land, housing, and development systems are for climate-related disruption. While the storm itself has passed, its effects continue to shape conversations around property resilience, land administration, and long-term housing security.
Hurricane Melissa caused flooding, infrastructure damage, and temporary displacement in several parishes, placing renewed pressure on housing stock, informal settlements, and critical services. Although recovery efforts stabilised affected areas within weeks, the event has drawn attention to structural issues that extend beyond emergency response and into the foundations of Jamaica’s real estate system.
At a basic level, extreme weather exposes where homes are built, how land is used, and which communities are most vulnerable. In Jamaica, this often inte…
