Natural disasters have a way of turning paradise into panic. For travelers, being caught in one can be terrifying, but depending on how you handle it online, sympathy might not come easily.
That’s what happened to one American woman whose plea for help while stranded in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa sparked backlash across social media.
Miami Woman Gets Stuck in Jamaica During Hurricane
Wellness influencer Nicole (@nicole_doyon) posted a short clip from her Jamaican vacation, explaining that she was desperate to find a way out before the storm hit.
Her video has since reached 8.9 million views, but the reaction wasn’t what she expected.
“I need help. SOS,” she says in the video, appearing distressed. “We are in Jamaica. The hurricane is hitting us directly. There are zero commercial flights out of here, and if we don’t leave, we’re going to get stuck for who knows how long.”
She continues, “If anybody knows anybody who can get us out of Jamaica, we don’t care where, we’ll go anywhere in the United States. We just need to get out of Jamaica. Please let me know.”
In the caption, she adds, “We are desperate, please help us.” Nicole later explained in the comments that she had tried booking multiple flights, but everything was already full.
Viewers Call Her ‘Tone Deaf’
Despite her panic, many viewers didn’t take kindly to the post. Some accused her of showing privilege during a crisis that had already devastated parts of the island.
“Damn, maybe you shouldn’t have gone to Jamaica,” one user wrote. “While you’re crying about being ‘stuck,’ actual Jamaican citizens are here picking up the real pieces from Hurricane Melissa. This is tone deaf as hell. Y’all white people love to vacation in so-called ‘third world countries’ until reality hits.”
Others questioned her timing and preparation. “You heard the hurricane was coming and you waited until the appointed time?” one commenter asked. “Anyways, hope something works out for you.” Nicole responded, “It’s almost like you don’t know the whole story.”
A few seemed confused by the request altogether. “You went to the airport and there’s no flights, so what you want us to do, girl?” one wrote.
Another joked, “You came for Jamaica, now you’re getting JAMAICA.”
Waiting It Out in the Wine Cellar
Nicole later posted updates as the storm made landfall. In one clip, she films from what she describes as a wine cellar, where she and other villa guests and workers took shelter. They waited out the storm for 48 hours.
Once it was safe to go outside, she filmed some of the damage left behind: trees down, debris scattered, and flooding near the villa’s grounds.
As of now, Nicole hasn’t posted an update confirming her return to the U.S.
Hurricane Melissa’s Devastation
Hurricane Melissa has been one of the strongest Atlantic storms in nearly two centuries. When it slammed into Jamaica, it registered winds of 185 mph (295 kph) and a central pressure of 892 millibars, matching records set by the 1935 Labor Day hurricane in Florida and 2019’s Hurricane Dorian.
At least eight people were killed in Jamaica, and the storm continued north toward Cuba and the Bahamas, where more damage followed. Haitian officials reported 23 deaths as heavy rains caused flooding and landslides, while one fatality was confirmed in the Dominican Republic.
By midweek, Melissa had weakened to a Category 2 storm, though it still carried winds around 100 mph (155 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned of a “dangerous storm surge” in the southeastern Bahamas and parts of eastern Cuba, urging residents to stay sheltered.
@nicole_doyon We are desperate please help us #hurricanejamaica ♬ original sound – nikki
The Mary Sue has reached out to Nicole via email for more details.
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