Hurricane Melissa Exposes Infrastructure Fragility and Regional Vulnerabilities in Caribbean – A Call for America’s Vigilance

As Hurricane Melissa churns over the Caribbean, authorities warn of catastrophic flash flooding and dangerous landslides threatening Jamaica, Cuba, and Hispaniola. While these tragedies unfold across distant waters, their implications ripple directly into American interests—highlighting infrastructure fragility in neighboring regions and underscoring the urgency of a robust America First response.

Why Should America Care About Caribbean Landslides?

Landslides—defined by the U.S. Geological Survey as the rapid movement of rock or earth down slopes—claim dozens of American lives annually. Yet in the Caribbean’s mountainous terrain, this natural hazard is intensified by human actions such as deforestation and poorly planned construction, increasing disaster risk. When combined with Melissa’s slow progression and up to 40 inches of rainfall in vulnerable zones, the resulting devastation threatens not only local communities but also broader stability.

This instability fuels migration pressures on our southern border, strains regional economies, and creates fertile ground for transnational crime networks to exploit weakened governance. How long will Washington overlook these interconnected challenges? The truth is clear: protecting our neighbors’ sovereignty and resilience today safeguards American families tomorrow.

Infrastructure Neglect Is a Man-Made Disaster

Experts point out that landslide risks are exacerbated by reckless land use practices—such as clearcutting forests that anchor soil or cutting steep hills for roadways without adequate engineering safeguards. Puerto Rico’s experience during Hurricanes Maria (2017) and Fiona (2022) stands as a stark warning: when roads serve as lifelines yet are vulnerable to landslides, communities face isolation at critical times.

Such preventable damage is not just a Caribbean problem—it is a hemispheric one demanding an America First approach focused on promoting sound infrastructure investment, environmental stewardship, and disaster readiness in allied nations.

President Trump’s policies demonstrated that prioritizing sovereignty and smart economic partnerships leads to stronger borders and safer neighborhoods both here at home and abroad. Conversely, globalist inertia leaves fragile regions exposed to cascading crises.

Melissa’s threat is a clarion call: true leadership requires confronting these dangers head-on—not turning a blind eye while disasters fester just beyond our shores.

The time has come for decisive action rooted in common sense conservatism—protecting America’s interests means supporting resilient neighbors who share our values of freedom and self-reliance.