‘You are a part of our family now’: Florida influencer trapped by hurricane in Jamaica yoga retreat helps with clean-up, raises $72k to rebuild homes

A Florida influencer trapped in the middle of a natural disaster sounds like a bad joke waiting to happen. It’s all too easy to imagine someone being pushy and demanding to locals at the worst time, insisting on special treatment, and acting like they’re above it all.

Well, don’t knock all influencers, because yoga influencer Nicole Doyon and two of her friends had the bad luck to be in Jamaica at a yoga retreat during last week’s Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm wreaked havoc across the country, and all flights were canceled meaning Doyon and her friends had to tough it out.

In a series of TikToks, she chronicled her experience:

Later, she posted a terrifying video taken during the storm itself, saying her ears kept popping due to the pressure changes:

Picking up the pieces

Once the storm had passed, the island was devastated. Houses were demolished, roads were blocked, windows smashed, and debris everywhere. Doyon and her friends probably could have been evacuated, but they chose to stay and help.

In a video, she praised the retreat’s staff, saying “we wanted to help as much as we could”. Video then shows the girls clearing debris, washing floors, and looking after children. By this point, the hurricane videos had attracted a sizeable audience, so Doyon put that to good use with a fundraiser:

“We are raising funds to support those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Your generous donations will be used to provide critical relief, including food, water, medical care, and rebuilding efforts for the affected communities. Together, we can give back to the amazing people who looked after us and help Jamaica rise again.”

Over on Instagram, the worker and locals Doyon met are clearly sorry to see her and her friends go. The villa that hosted them said: “You are incredible!! Thank you for everything. You are a part of our family now.” Another said: “We officially adopt you. Come back anytime Jamaica loves and appreciate you so much.”

As of writing, Doyon’s fundraiser has raised $72,354.00 for Jamaica, meaning it’s at 97% of its $75k target. So, if you’re ever traveling and are caught in a natural disaster, maybe look to his influencer for inspiration on what to do – pitch in, help out, do whatever you can to raise awareness. Whatever else happens, it sounds like Doyon has made some new friends for life in Jamaica.