A Chicago couple's Jamaican villa withstood Hurricane Melissa, but they witnessed the devastating impact of the storm on local residents.
"We rode out the storm in our safe house, but we could hear the pleas from outside," said Lila Funderburg. "The kids were screaming, and it was heartbreaking to see people begging for mercy." The Category 5 hurricane left a trail of destruction, with wind speeds reaching over 160 mph and rain causing widespread flooding.
For Jeff and Lila Funderburg, who split their time between Chicago and Jamaica, the storm brought back memories of their son Ahmad's passing in 2011. They had spread his ashes on a Jamaican beach, solidifying their bond to the country. Now, they are using their skills as sustainability consultants to help Jamaica rebuild.
The couple has been working on implementing a hurricane-proof water generator to provide clean drinking water to areas affected by the storm. The device, which can withstand Category 4 hurricanes, was installed in Accompong just before Hurricane Melissa hit and proved its worth when it kept providing water despite the strong winds and rain.
"Lila has said that she has a lot of appreciation for Mother Nature, but seeing what the storm left behind is devastating," Jeff Funderburg noted. "We're thankful to be here, but we know we have a long road ahead." The couple plans to take donations to support hurricane relief efforts and encourage others to get involved in rebuilding.
The community's resilience will be crucial as they face another storm in the future. As Lila put it, "We want to bring hope back. Bring hope and help to rebuild so they come out stronger when the next hurricane hits." The Funderburgs' commitment to supporting Jamaica during this difficult time is a testament to their enduring bond with the island and its people.
"We rode out the storm in our safe house, but we could hear the pleas from outside," said Lila Funderburg. "The kids were screaming, and it was heartbreaking to see people begging for mercy." The Category 5 hurricane left a trail of destruction, with wind speeds reaching over 160 mph and rain causing widespread flooding.
For Jeff and Lila Funderburg, who split their time between Chicago and Jamaica, the storm brought back memories of their son Ahmad's passing in 2011. They had spread his ashes on a Jamaican beach, solidifying their bond to the country. Now, they are using their skills as sustainability consultants to help Jamaica rebuild.
The couple has been working on implementing a hurricane-proof water generator to provide clean drinking water to areas affected by the storm. The device, which can withstand Category 4 hurricanes, was installed in Accompong just before Hurricane Melissa hit and proved its worth when it kept providing water despite the strong winds and rain.
"Lila has said that she has a lot of appreciation for Mother Nature, but seeing what the storm left behind is devastating," Jeff Funderburg noted. "We're thankful to be here, but we know we have a long road ahead." The couple plans to take donations to support hurricane relief efforts and encourage others to get involved in rebuilding.
The community's resilience will be crucial as they face another storm in the future. As Lila put it, "We want to bring hope back. Bring hope and help to rebuild so they come out stronger when the next hurricane hits." The Funderburgs' commitment to supporting Jamaica during this difficult time is a testament to their enduring bond with the island and its people.
man i cant even watch videos of hurricane melissa thats devastating 
especially when u see ppl beggin 4 mercy its heartbreaking 
at least the water gen is doin its thang tho 
but seriously its a huge job rebuildin Jamaica after dat storm 
we gotta support them thru this 
. but what's even more inspiring is their commitment to helping jamaica rebuild & providing clean drinking water to those affected 
they're using their skills as sustainability consultants to make a real difference, and that's what we need more of in this world 
! Can't believe how some ppl are using natural disasters as an opportunity to rebuild & help each other out 
how the Funderburgs are putting their skills 2 use in such a meaningful way after losing their son 
. i'd love to see more innovations like this being shared with other communities that need them most... and i hope the Funderburgs' donation drive catches on 
! that hurricane was insane, 160 mph winds are crazy 
i can only imagine how heartbreaking it must've been to hear those pleas for mercy outside their safe house 
and now they're using their skills to help Jamaica rebuild 
it's amazing how this couple is bringing hope back to the community after everything they lost 
Those winds must've been so intense, it's crazy they had a water generator that could withstand them 
. What really gets me, though, is the human side of this story - those people begging for mercy on the streets? 
.
i mean, 160mph winds? that's insane 
especially those who lost loved ones it's just so heartbreaking to hear about lila and jeff's experience with ahmad 
they're doing some amazing work with their water generator tho 
. I mean, 160 mph winds? That's insane! Can't we just go back to traditional ways of providing aid? And what's with the fancy Category ratings? Just sounds like bureaucratic red tape to me 
. These Jamaican folks are already struggling, they don't need some overpriced machine telling them how to survive 
.