As Jamaica was flogged Tuesday by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 monster, climate defenders highlighted how US President Donald Trump's policies—including reckless fossil fuel expansion, eviscerating federal agencies, and slashing international aid—will deepen the devastating impacts of this and future natural disasters.
Melissa—the strongest storm to slam Jamaica since 1851—made landfall near New Hope at approximately 1:00 pm local time, with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour, with significantly stronger gusts. As of 5:00 pm local time, the storm had weakened to a Category 4 as it crossed the Caribbean island's rugged mountain terrain, but still packed maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. Melissa is expected to strike Cuba next, with significant impacts also forecast for the Bahamas and Haiti.
Not only is Melissa the strongest storm to hit Jamaica—parts of which are still rebuilding following last year's devastating Hurricane Beryl—in nearly 175 years, it is also one of the fastest-intensifying storms in history.
As scientists have long predicted, planetary heating caused by human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, is driving the intensification of natural disasters including hurricanes.
According to a new study published Monday by ClimaMeter, "Compared to previous decades, meteorological conditions for cyclones like Hurricane Melissa are now more intense and potentially destructive, bringing heavier rainfall and stronger winds."
"The devastating impacts of Melissa show that fossil fuels do far more than warm the world—they make hurricanes wetter, stronger, and more violent," study co-author Davide Faranda said in a statement. "The science is clear: If emissions aren’t rapidly cut, countries like Jamaica will face storms more destructive than anything ever seen before."
However, Trump—who ran for reelection on a "drill, baby, drill" energy platform—and his fossil-friendly administration have no intention of cutting emissions, or pursuing any sort of pro-climate policies.
The Trump administration has also suppressed climate science, gutted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its forecasting infrastructure, and worked to undermine Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operations.
Much of this has occurred under the direction of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, who co-authored the policy portion of Project 2025, a blueprint for overhauling the federal government that includes dramatic cuts to critical public programs, abolishing or gutting essential government agencies, and a litany of other far-right wish list items.
Some of those items have already been checked off the list, including shutting down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which previously administered foreign aid. International assistance, which has been dramatically slashed, is now under the auspices of the US State Department.
“Hurricane Melissa is poised to unleash unspeakable harm on Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, a tragedy which will be deepened by Donald Trump and Russell Vought’s lawlessly unilateral cessation of USAID funding," lamented Jeff Hauser, the executive director of the Revolving Door Project, in a statement Tuesday.
"Flooding risks are projected to be elevated in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, both US territories," Hauser continued. "By further expanding planet-heating fossil fuel pollution, the Trump administration and its Republican allies in Congress are condemning people around the world to more frequent and severe extreme weather, including rapidly intensifying monster hurricanes."
