Tank-Weld assists hurricane recovery in South West St Elizabeth

· The Gleaner
Residents across South West St Elizabeth receive sleeping bags, solar lanterns, water and care packages delivered by the Hurricane Relief Command Centre and Tank-Weld Metals Ltd.Contributed
A team from Tank-Weld Metals and South West St Elizabeth Hurricane Relief Command Centre moved through seven of the hardest-hit communities, ensuring families received essential supplies following the impacts of Hurricane Melissa.Contributed

Tank-Weld Metals, in partnership with the South West St Elizabeth hurricane Relief Command Centre, has distributed care packages and shelter items to seven communities hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa.

A full truck carrying 700 care packages and more than 75 cases of water was recently deployed with logistics support from MJ Trucking and fuel assistance from FESCO. Tank-Weld also donated 500 sleeping bags and 400 solar-powered lanterns, sourced in collaboration with Dick’s Sporting Goods and Waldron Wealth, to help families still without electricity.

The joint team travelled through Newcombe Valley, Beacon, Galleon, Fyffes Pen, Cambridge, Oxford and Compound, delivering supplies to residents facing housing damage, loss of belongings and prolonged power outages.

Member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth Floyd Green praised the intervention. “Let me thank Tank-Weld Metals Ltd Group for making this possible. When someone loses their roof, they lose everything inside, so having a comfortable place to sleep becomes absolutely critical,” he said.

Green noted that Hurricane Melissa devastated the area’s electrical system, including the Maggotty power plant, leaving more than 40 communities affected. “Providing solar lamps and sleeping bags will go a far way,” he added.

Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox

Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.

Sarah Bicknell, representing Tank-Weld Metals, said the company is committed to helping families recover with dignity. “These sleeping bags and solar lanterns were donated specifically to support communities still dealing with power outages and unsafe living conditions. It is an honour to stand with Minister Green, the Hurricane Relief Command Centre and all partners working to uplift those affected,” she said.