Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica
There are more than 881 shelters available in Jamaica, Minister McKenzie emphasized
Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, is rapidly advancing toward Jamaica and eastern Cuba, requiring urgent preparations by governments and aid agencies across the region. With maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, the storm is expected to generate destructive winds, storm surge and catastrophic flooding.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) bulletin published this Monday, Melissa was moving west-northwest at 6 km/h. The storm was last located 205 km south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and is forecast to move near or over Jamaica tonight, Tuesday. Melissa is expected to make landfall over southeastern Cuba and the entire southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.
The NHC warns of extreme precipitation, which could cause flash floods and numerous life-threatening landslides. In Jamaica, rainfall of between 38 and 76 cm is expected, while in eastern Cuba, average rainfall is expected between 25 and 38 cm, with local totals reaching 50 cm.
Additionally, areas of southern Hispaniola (the island divided between the Dominican Republic and Haiti) could see between 20 and 40 cm of rain, with local totals of up to 101 cm.
Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, assured that the country’s shelters were safe and prepared for severe weather and urged residents to evacuate their homes in vulnerable areas.
“I want to reassure everyone. Each of our more than 881 shelters in Jamaica is managed by a manager who has a support team… The police will patrol the different spaces before and after the hurricane,” said the minister, highlighting that the shelters were clean, equipped and would house men and women separately (except families). “Personal, community and national recovery from this historically severe hurricane is only possible if you are alive and well for it to happen,” McKenzie said. He also asked the population to cooperate with disaster coordinators and security forces.
In the US state of Florida, charities are mobilizing relief supplies and preparing two containers full of family aid packages for immediate shipment to Jamaica as soon as the storm passes.
The initiative is coordinated by Caribbean Strong, a network of volunteers led by Marlon Hill, in collaboration with the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM). Each container contains family necessities kits designed to supply two people for up to four days, including water, non-perishable food, hygiene products and portable lights. Hill said distribution will be prioritized according to the most affected areas, noting that last year’s aid was focused on communities like Treasure Beach and Rocky Point after Hurricane Beryl. “Normally I don’t worry, but this worries me deeply… This storm is expected to hit St. Elizabeth, one of our most important parishes. This will have a huge impact on our food supply and overall recovery,” said Hill, a native of the area.
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