HOUSTON – For Texans star defensive end Danielle Hunter, what has happened to his homeland of Jamaica is deeply personal.
Born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Hunter moved to the United State when he was eight years old and graduated from Morton Ranch High School.
Hunter has a lot of family members still living in Jamaica, which suffered devastating destruction after sustaining a direct hit from Hurricane Melissa, a Category Five called one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever.
The majority of the island is without power, and Hunter and his mother are trying to contact family members to check on them. However, communication is largely down.
“Been trying to keep in contact with them, but apparently the phones are down,” Hunter told KPRC 2. “We haven’t been able to talk to people, but hopefully everything gets back to normal with the communication and we’ll be able to find somebody to help them out.”
At least four bodies have been found in southwest Jamaica. Emergency relief efforts are underway.
“The damage that’s been done, trees down, power lines and everything, I don’t think it’s anything that they’re ready to prepare for,” Hunter said. “The biggest thing is just for them trying to be safe, just trying to find a way out just be able to help my family that’s down there.
“Me and my mom, we’ve been trying to talk to people, but the communication, it’s down. Hopefully that’ll be able to come on soon, or they’ll be able to go to a different part of the island and be able to communicate with us, so that’s what we’re working on.”
The Jamaica Foundation of Houston has set up a Hurricane Melissa fund to help those in need. To donate, click here.
“To go out there and build back and become stronger, we’ve dealt with it before, with hurricanes in the past, not as strong as this one,” Hunter said. “But I believe my people will be able to come back from this. At the end of the day, we’ll come back together and we’ll build a stronger country. Just keep riding and stick together as a family.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
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