Stranded by Hurricane Melissa at Beaches Negril during her grandson’s seventh birthday, travel adviser Alicia Rampy described hunkering down as the most powerful hurricane ever to hit Jamaica swept in. Staff who volunteered to stay delivered meals door to door, generators kept lights on, and her family improvised a fort while winds bent palms and the internet failed. Afterward, guests and workers cleared debris; a pool reopened by midmorning. While parts of Jamaica were devastated, Sandals reported no injuries at its eight resorts and began raising funds for relief.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.