# Jamaica Fire Brigade’s front line: Inside the Hurricane Melissa response

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ems-one-stop-5691901/jamaica-fire-brigade-s-front-line-inside-the-hurricane-melissa-response
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ems-one-stop-5691901/jamaica-fire-brigade-s-front-line-inside-the-hurricane-melissa-response.md
Podcast: [EMS One-Stop](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ems-one-stop-5691901)
Published: 2025-11-13T17:09:10+00:00
Episode link: https://emsonestop.podbean.com/e/jamaica-fire-brigade-s-front-line-inside-the-hurricane-melissa-response/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/srahi6pcjhnepbvy/Jamaca_H_Melissa7kz6e.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ems-one-stop-5691901/episodes/jamaica-fire-brigade-s-front-line-inside-the-hurricane-melissa-response
Duration seconds: 1858

## Resource

In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, host Rob Lawrence welcomes Dr. Hezedean Smith, who spotlights the human and operational toll of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Dr. Smith draws from first-hand perspective from the ground, detailing catastrophic damage to homes, utilities, roads and communications — which compounded the workload and emotional burden for Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) firefighters and EMS providers. Dr. Smith highlighted the Brigade’s Amazon Wish List effort, which aims to route essential personal items and operational supplies directly to affected JFB members and stations to sustain continuity of operations and support responders’ families. After the break, Dr. Smith switched hats as the newly elected President of NEMSMA to outline the association’s renewed momentum: New association management support Expanded member services and credentials The inaugural NEMSMA Leadership Conference The NEMSMA Leadership Conference will take place in Washington, D.C., March 23-24, 2026, intentionally adjacent to EMS on the Hill to create a leadership-plus-advocacy “two-fer.” Highlights include keynote Gen. Robert Neller (Ret.), plus a deep bench of EMS leaders and educators. Memorable quotes from Dr. Hezedean Smith “Many homes destroyed, utility systems interrupted, critical infrastructure in terms of communities having the ability to communicate, leaving thousands displaced, even fire stations having operational challenges as it relates to communication and interoperability ... ” “I stayed in the local fire station. I wanted to be there with the men and women on the ground, to make sure that I had that communication, that constant contact with them.” “My focus will be on the firefighters and ensuring that we get enough supplies to go dire…

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## Transcript

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