Hurricane Melissa Hits Category 5, Evacuations Ordered in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified to a category 5 storm on Monday, posing a significant threat to the northern Caribbean. As a result, the Jamaican government has mandated evacuations in vulnerable areas, including the capital city, Kingston. Residents in low-lying and flood-prone regions are urged to seek shelter due to the hurricane’s potential for catastrophic winds and rainfall.

Jamaican authorities announced the closure of both international airports and activated 881 shelters nationwide. During a press conference, Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government, emphasized the need for precaution, stating, “Many of these communities will not survive the flooding. Kingston is extremely low. No community in Kingston is immune.”

The situation escalated further when Prime Minister Andrew Holness issued mandatory evacuations for Port Royal and six other at-risk areas, including Old Harbour Bay. He appealed to citizens: “I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously. Take all measures to protect yourself.”

As of late Sunday, Hurricane Melissa was located approximately 205 km (125 miles) south-southwest of Kingston. The US National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph), with the storm moving west at 7 km/h. Forecasts indicate that Jamaica could receive up to 76 cm (30 inches) of rain, with some regions potentially facing as much as 102 cm (40 inches).

The combination of rapid intensification and slow movement has raised concerns among experts about the storm’s impact. The hurricane center warned of significant damage to infrastructure, power outages, and the isolation of communities in Jamaica.

Despite the evacuation orders, some residents in Port Royal have chosen to remain at home. Ann Marie Chamberlain, a 51-year-old villager, expressed her confidence in their preparations, stating, “Father God will protect us.” She recounted a traumatic experience 21 years ago in a shelter, where safety was compromised, leading her to distrust the evacuation process.

Derrick Powell, a 42-year-old marketing manager, echoed her sentiments about the shelters, saying, “I have never been to a shelter but residents who have been say they will never go back.”

As Hurricane Melissa approaches, it is expected to move towards Cuba by late Tuesday, with the Cuban government issuing a hurricane watch for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín. The storm has already caused fatalities in Haiti, with at least three confirmed deaths and one missing person in the Dominican Republic.

Jamie Rhome, the hurricane center’s deputy director, provided a grim outlook, stating, “Unfortunately for places along the projected path of this storm, it is increasingly dire.” Reports from Haiti indicate rising river levels, flooding, and significant damage to infrastructure, including a destroyed bridge in Sainte-Suzanne.

In the Dominican Republic, nearly 200 homes have been damaged, and water supply systems have been disrupted, affecting over half a million people. The storm has also downed trees, traffic lights, and caused small landslides, isolating numerous communities.

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has warned that the storm could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to the southeast and central Bahamas as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands early next week. Hurricane Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season, forecasting 13 to 18 named storms.