As Jamaica moves through what has so far been a relatively quiet 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, homeowners and businesses are being urged not to allow lower activity to create a false sense of security. The warning comes less than a year after Hurricane Melissa delivered a devastating reminder of how quickly risk can become reality.
Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Westmoreland, on October 28, 2025, as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour. The storm caused its most severe damage across western and central parishes including Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Hanover, St James, Trelawny and Manchester. Government assessments later placed preliminary physical damage at approximately US$8.8 billion.
For thousands of Jamaicans who experienced damaged homes, disrupted livelihoods and prolonged recovery, Melissa demonstrated that the impact of a hurricane is determined not by how active the wider season is, but by whether a severe storm reaches the island.
That lesson remains relevant in 2026. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) updated outlook gives the Atlantic a 75 per cent chance of experiencing a below-normal season, with seven to 13 named storms, two to six hurricanes and up to two major hurricanes projected. NOAA has also stressed that seasonal outlooks cannot predict whether a particular location will be struck.
Pauline Campbell, Claims Manager at BCMG Insurance Brokers, says the quieter period should therefore be treated as an opportunity to strengthen preparedness. “Use this quiet period to assess your risk, get adequate insurance coverage and fix what needs fixing on your premises,” Campbell advised.
One of the most significant vulnerabilities BCMG continues to observe is underinsurance, where properties are insured for less than the actual rebuilding and replacement costs. The consequences may only become apparent after a major loss.
“If your property is only insured for 60 per cent of its value, the insurance company may only cover 60 per cent of the claim,” Campbell explained. “You would then have to find the remaining 40 per cent yourself.”
Following an event on the scale of Hurricane Melissa, such a shortfall could significantly affect a household’s ability to rebuild or a company’s ability to resume operations. Campbell recommends that property owners obtain a professional valuation report that properly accounts for buildings. The value of contents, equipment and other assets should also be regularly reviewed to reflect current replacement costs.
Policyholders should also maintain updated inventories that support the sums insured under their policies.
For businesses, resilience must extend beyond physical damage. Hurricanes can interrupt operations, affect income, disrupt supply chains and create additional expenses. Business interruption protection and increased cost of working should therefore form part of the discussion when assessing coverage.
A mid-season review with your broker can also identify changes since a policy was established, including new equipment, changes in business operations, alterations to a property or losses that have not yet been reported.
Homeowners should similarly revisit policy limits, deductibles, exclusions and policy conditions rather than waiting until a hurricane is approaching.
The wider lesson from Melissa is that resilience requires an ongoing approach to risk. Hurricanes, flooding and other weather-related hazards must remain part of the climate risk conversation, while risks such as earthquakes should also be considered within Jamaica’s broader multi-hazard protection strategy.
“Being genuinely hurricane ready means that you have adequate insurance in place, supported by a professional valuation report,” Campbell said. “You have updated lists of all your contents and equipment that are insured, your property is in good condition, and your premium is paid in full.”
A quiet hurricane season can provide valuable breathing room, but it should not encourage complacency. Hurricane Melissa showed that one severe event can be enough to change the financial outlook of a household or business.
Insurance should therefore do more than help policyholders survive a loss. Supported by accurate valuations, proper risk assessment and continuous preparedness, it should help provide a realistic pathway towards recovery and continuity.
Pauline Campbell is the Claims Manager at BCMG Insurance Brokers
Source: Our Today