92-y-o uses verandah to shelter from Melissa

At 92 years old, Eugenia Nembhard said she has weathered many storms including Hurricanes Charlie in 1951 and Gilbert in 1988, but none were as devastating and furious as Melissa.

Sitting on her late mother's waterlogged bed in her hurricane ravished house, in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, the elderly woman said she watched in horror as the winds snatched the roof off the only home she knew.

"This house carry mi through all a the storm dem but this one take it away. From Charlie to Gilbert mi deh here but mi never see anything so terrible as this one. Mi watch the naseberry tree tear dung and that was there all the time," she said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Melissa made landfall in south western Jamaica with wind speed as much as 185 kilometres per hour. With her house roofless, Nembhard said she had no other choice except to pray and sit on her verandah as the hurricane spat fury.

"Just mi and the Almighty and mi dog and cat was here when the hurricane a gwan. Mi alone live because mi husband and son dead. Is on the verandah mi sit down. Mi watch mi zinc dem blow off go next door and yesterday (Thursday) mi watch a man a take up all a dem," she said.

Fear and thoughts were of death flashed through the senior citizen's mind but said she sought comfort through prayer.

"Mi just sit and talk to the Lord because I am a God bless soul. From the hurricane pass mi nuh eat. Mi did have two water bottle but when mi look, it dirty. Only thing mi drink is a small Minute Maid and mi go cross the road and get a jelly water. Mi have all kidney problem but mi just have to pray," Nembhard said.

The section of Lacovia where Nembhard resides has been transformed into a river. Knee-length water leads to what was the entrance of her house. Sheets of zinc laden with sharp nails are scattered around, leaving it extremely risky for the old woman to move around. Unfortunately with no one to lean on, Nembhard has to wobble her way round.

"Seet deh, everywhere in the house mash up. The roof gone. All a the furniture mash up and all the clothes. Mi bed dem wet so I don't have anywhere to sleep tonight. A just the good Lord a keep mi because mi don't have anywhere help. Is PATH mi depend on and that is just $6,000. Mi would want some help to build back mi board house," she said.