185 MPH. Five Feet of Water. An Island in Crisis.
When Hurricane Melissa powered through Jamaica in October 2025, the island faced the full force of one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic. With sustained winds of 185 mph and catastrophic flooding across multiple parishes, Melissa became the costliest and most destructive hurricane in the nation's history.
Entire communities were left without power for weeks. Buildings lost their roofs. Five feet of water rushed through dozens of structures. Hundreds of thousands of residents were thrust into crisis as essential services collapsed. And the children — particularly the youngest, ages 2 to 6, who depend on Basic Schools for early education — were left without the routines and structures that keep families together and futures intact.
Operation TALLAWAH
Help arrived from an unexpected source: a group of dedicated veterans. Within weeks they mobilized teams, tools, and equipment and headed straight toward the hardest-hit communities. The effort is named Operation TALLAWAH — a Jamaican word that means a resilient spirit, one not to be underestimated.
The operation is a collaborative effort led by the Integrity Children's Fund (ICF), with a coalition of partners committed to rebuilding the schools that keep Jamaica's most vulnerable children safe, educated, and connected to their futures.
"If they do not have this schooling, we will lose that generation. A tragedy."
— Karl Chambers, President, Integrity Children's Fund · Retired Jamaican Defense Force
What Veterans Do When the Mission Calls
The work on the ground is exactly what it sounds like: hard, unglamorous, and urgent. Veterans and volunteers shoveled mud from the floors of roofless buildings, rebuilt walls, poured cement, and raised steel beams. The Jamaican community showed up alongside them — shaping rebar, hauling supplies, and feeding the teams throughout each day.
Chris Salatino, a Public Insurance Adjuster with Claim Solutions International who represents policyholders rather than insurance companies, was there to help in a different way — guiding families through the insurance process when they are shaken and unclear on the path forward.
"You see these little chairs in the mud that tiny school kids use and temporary beds in the church for them to sleep at night and it hits you," Salatino shared. He talked about seeing the ugly side of this hurricane — but also the beauty. "That," he said, "is the community. They show up, every day, all day."
Isn't Over.
What's Still Needed
The recovery process has only just started. The urgent needs are still there — and they're both immediate and long-term.
The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) of Jamaica, which sets national standards for Basic Schools, works closely with each church that owns a school — focusing on children and the larger communities to ensure safety, security, and access to education as they recover and rebuild.
Their Service, Given Again
The veterans involved in Operation TALLAWAH include Zack Knight of ATLVets, Karl Chambers — President of Integrity Children's Fund and retired Jamaican Defense Force — Bindley Sangster of Sangster's Coffee and USAF Veteran, and volunteer Chris Salatino of Claim Solutions International.
As Zack Knight shared: Operation TALLAWAH is not just a name. It means a resilient spirit — one not to be underestimated. Their service, once given on the battlefield, is now being given again in the form of compassion, leadership, and unwavering resolve. And for the children and families of Jamaica, that commitment is nothing short of life-changing.
Plans are underway, schedules are coordinated. Whether you are an individual, a foundation, a company, or a faith community — your participation, your contribution, and your help are needed and welcomed.
