28 Floridians Evacuated From Jamaica, DeSantis Confirms

Floridians trapped in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa were flown home on Nov. 1.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that 28 residents of his state were flown off the devastated island after he directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to begin evacuation efforts on Oct. 31. After working with local officials, the rescue flight left Saturday and arrived at Tampa International Airport that evening.

“Throughout my time as governor, Florida has rescued our residents from warzones and in the wake of natural disasters,” DeSantis said in a press release. “Today’s operation in Jamaica brings stranded Floridians home in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. I am grateful for the efforts of our emergency management officials and partners who worked to make this happen.”

Previous examples of such evacuation flights include returning Floridians home from Israel after both the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and the Iranian missile strikes earlier this year. DeSantis also organized the successful rescue of Floridians from Haiti in 2024.

“This rapid response reflects the strength of Florida’s emergency management system and our commitment to providing timely, coordinated support,” division’s executive director Kevin Guthrie said. “Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis’ decisive leadership and our team’s swift action, we were able to help Floridians return home safely.”

Waiting on the ground in Tampa to welcome them home with Guthrie was Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who oversaw the 2025 rescue flights from Israel. Collins shared pictures of the day on X as some of those returning home embraced him.

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, we mobilized quickly to send relief flights and bring our citizens home safely following Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica,” he said. “Today, I was on the ground at Tampa International Airport to welcome these families as they arrived and to ensure they received the care and support they needed. Our state’s strength is found in our people, and today that strength is on full display.”

Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, as a Category 5 on Oct. 28 and became not just the most intense hurricane to make landfall on the island, but one of the strongest hurricanes to make landfall anywhere in the Atlantic.

More than 75 percent of the island’s residents were without power, as many as 90 percent of homes of at least one parish were damaged or destroyed, and several historic landmarks and pieces of critical infrastructure were demolished. Multiple people have already been reported dead.

At least one airport was able to open just days after the storm passed, and several nonprofits have been working to ship in supplies and fly people home.