Salvation Army Gets to Work in Aftermath of Hurricane Dean

Salvation Army personnel in Jamaica are bringing practical and emotional support in the face of widespread damage caused by Hurricane Dean's tear across the Caribbean island on Monday.

The storm was a massive category five when it slammed into Jamaica's shores, uprooting trees, blowing down power lines and tearing roofs off buildings.

Working in partnership with Jamaica's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Disaster, The Salvation Army's Eastern Jamaica Division in Kingston has been on the ground bringing 500 meals daily to emergency shelters, and food parcels to more than 1,000 people.

Its own buildings also suffered the force of the hurricane, which damaged its orphanage and children's home in Kingston called The Nest, and its School for the Blind and Visually Impaired - the only school in the country for blind people.

The Salvation Army is now helping residents carry out repairs on their damaged homes.

Other Christian organisations, including World Vision and Christian Aid, have been in the hurricane-hit regions distributing food, clean water, toiletries, blankets and other essential items.

Later in the week, Hurricane Dean blustered its way to Mexico's Gulf coast where powerful 100 mph winds and torrential rain left two people dead.

Thousands have packed into shelters to escape the downpours that have flooded many towns and villages, while large trees were blown across main roads.

Hurricane Dean lost much of its strength by Wednesday afternoon, dropping to the tropical depression category, and likely to fizzle out before it reaches the US coastline.