After striking Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa moved toward Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas – countries also considered highly exposed to physical climate risk. Moody’s noted that it could take weeks or months before total economic and insured loss estimates are finalised.

Hurricane Melissa hit Haiti’s West department, killing at least 20 people, including 10 children, and leaving others missing. As of Wednesday, the unofficial death toll was 23 since the storm first began pummeling the country.

Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic strike on Jamaica has sparked renewed debate over whether the U.S. should extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to affected Caribbean nationals already here.

At the Geneva Association’s Climate Change and Environment Conference this week, Swiss Re CEO Andreas Berger issued a compelling call for the insurance and finance industries to fundamentally rethink their role in addressing climate risk.

With sustained winds of 175 mph, Melissa is now one of the strongest hurricanes, based on top wind speeds, on record in the Atlantic basin.

Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said Hurricane Melissa killed at least 20 people in Petit-Goâve, including 10 children. It also damaged more than 160 homes and destroyed 80 others.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio called for “prayer and action” as Hurricane Melissa devastated the Caribbean region.

Those who would like to help should donate to a verified fundraiser via the Hurricane Melissa Relief Hub. Even though GoFundMe accepts donations worldwide, only people in supported jurisdictions can start fundraisers for specific friends and family in the Caribbean at this time.