Communication systems are down, so we still don't know the total breadth and depth of the catastrophe in Jamaica. But what we know is horrible. The western half of the island was devastated. Montego Bay, the heart of the tourism economy in the country, is out of commission. Crops were destroyed. Cities and towns were inundated. It will take years to recover.   The incredible 185 mph winds, torrential rains, and storm surge ripped off roofs and flooded cities and towns in both

The full scope of the disaster in Jamaica is not yet clear, and the impacts from the storm are not finished. Even though Hurricane Melissa is now heading toward the Central and Southeastern Bahamas, the two feet or more of rain that fell across the Jamaican mountains still has to run downhill, meaning the flood threat continues.   Early indications are that there was damage across the country, but the scale of the destruction in each location remains to be learned.   The Nati