Brian Lairer on WNYC, and as you've no doubt been hearing, if you follow the news at all,

Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded, struck Jamaica yesterday with 185

mile-per-hour winds, causing landslides, knocking down trees and power lines and more.

The storm is now crossing Cuba, thankfully with less intensity, although still a slow-moving

category three storm, more than 100-mile-an-hour winds in Cuba,

Melissa has caused flooding in Haiti as well and the Dominican Republic,

and will continue to bring heavy rains to other parts of the Caribbean on its way to

Bermuda and on out to sea. Officials are still struggling to assess the damage done so far, but we're joined now

by Arlen Fuller, the Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response for Project Hope, a global

health and disaster response organization. Arlen, thank you for taking some time from what must be a

very busy day for you right now. Welcome to WNYC.

Thanks, Brian. I appreciate you having me on. And listeners, we want to invite you to help us report

this story. What have you heard from friends or family in Jamaica or anywhere else in the region

that's being affected to 122433, WNYC, call or text.

Have you been able to contact them even since the storm?

What do you know about preparations or the results of this monstrous storm?

Call or text us with anything you can say to help us report the story,

or if you have questions for Arlen Fuller from Project Hope, 212, 433, WNYC, 433, 9692.

And Arlen, I see your Project Hope website says you've mobilized a response team to move in

and assess the needs in Jamaica.

Have you already gotten any reports?

Yeah, thanks, Brian.

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