JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville business owner Ricky Ravelo is currently in Jamaica after being unable to leave the country.
Ricky and his group arrived in Jamaica last Wednesday for a planned vacation with friends.
“Melissa had other plans for us,” his wife said.
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The News4JAX team has known Ricky for more than a year, having first interviewed him during a tornado event on Beach Boulevard last summer. He was also featured during our Hispanic Heritage Month coverage for his work as a roofer and his escape from Cuba as a child.
Despite facing the hurricane, Ricky and his wife remain optimistic. They are in Ocho Rios. “We’ll be good, man. You know? We’re survivors. We’re survivors and we believe in the Lord,” he said.
The group attempted to leave Jamaica on Saturday but found no available flights.
“The airport that we flew into was closed immediately. Then soon thereafter the other one started closing and obviously everybody was trying to get out, so we couldn’t find anything,” Ricky explained.
Ricky said he might stay in Jamaica after the storm passes to help with recovery efforts.
“We’re here to see what happens now what happens next, and we can help out in any way. We’ll try to do that. Let me tell you, these people over here, Jamaican people are amazing,” he said.
Ravelo says his suppliers are already on board to get supplies where needed. He said he is working to coordinate with local officials to find out what they can do.