‘It come like hell’ - Rastaman survives Hurricane Melissa by hiding in church

Standing in what remains of the Beeston Spring Church of England in Westmoreland, Terah Kelly wonders how he survived Hurricane Melissa.

He had to take refuge in the place of worship after the Category 5 storm smashed into Jamaica, particularly affecting western parishes.

"This church is the greatest landmark because a whole heap a people know bout this church, but it get crash up this time," he said as he retraced his steps with THE STAR team.

"The glass dem out a the church a fly a come inna the air. If dem come stick all inna mi neck a dead mi dead," he recounted, demonstrating how he dropped flat on the tile floor. "Mi fall pon di ground fi sight the zinc." Inside the sanctuary, Kelly said the storm sounded like something out of the underworld.

"It come like hell, like the whole world a turn ova," he said. Kelly pointed to a blue water jug that was still resting where he had climbed atop it as the wind tore chunks off the church roof.

"A this water jug mi haffi stand up pon. Mi haffi a say nuh mek yah so move then pay glass start fly, mi haffi draw back mi head behind the wall. Mi go look wah gwaan and mi see house top gone and house gone."

This was not Kelly's first encounter with a storm in Beeston Spring. He vividly remembered last year when Hurricane Beryl passed by. He recalled asking God to spare his home.

"As mi coulda talk so, Him cool off. Mi just say 'Father do! Don't come back again', and Him neva come back," he recalled. But when Melissa made landfall on October 28, that was a different and more dangerous affair.

"Mi talk to Him but mi find out say a nuh Father thing this ya time," he said.

The Rastaman said that while seeking shelter, he tried to move to another section of the church, to no avail.

"It full up a water, so mi find out say mi couldn't stay in deh, then mi run go ova the neighbour yard," he said. Kelly said he barely understood how he survived the roaring winds, smashing windows, and falling roof panels.

"Mi haffi ask Lord God Almighty a wah gwaan? God if a come yuh come and come inna this yah way no sah mi nuh pleased a it!"

Now standing in front of the crumpled church building, Kelly said all he wants is a fresh start.

"Mi want get one nice likkle house quick quick fi live inna," he said, while expressing gratitude to be alive