Early Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami warned people in Jamaica to evacuate to shelters, as hazardous conditions were expected to persist through Tuesday. The eyewall of Melissa is approaching as it is moving extremely slowly while making a close pass on Jamaica as a dangerous Category 5 storm. The storm is expected to have catastrophic impacts on Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba in the coming days and then impact the Bahamas by the middle of the week.
How is the Caribbean preparing for this catastrophic storm? As they are prepared for Melissa to hit multiple regions of the Caribbean, the American Red Cross Foundation is supporting efforts by the U.S. Navy to relocate people from military installations located in the storm’s path. Meanwhile, Red Cross Societies across the islands are moving to support people as this devastating disaster approaches.
Over the weekend, American Red Cross volunteers at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida greeted and assisted the plane loads of people being relocated by the Navy. One instance of a mother and her newborn baby was when she realized she had left some important items behind for her new baby. Red Cross workers found a store open at 2:00 a.m. and were able to purchase the supplies for her.
Bermuda’s Government has also issued a hurricane warning, and emergency services are on high alert. Residents in low-lying areas are being advised to evacuate, as well as tourists, who are also being encouraged to postpone any travel plans until the storm passes. The next few days will be critical for these islands as they brace for the impact of this storm, which is said to have surpassed the power of Katrina by now. But as of this Tuesday, Hurricane Melissa battered through the Caribbean as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in 150 years.
Jamaica sustained most of the damage, with more than 25,000 people left crowding into shelters across the western half of Jamaica, and 77% of the island without power. “The devastation is enormous,” Jamaican Transportation Minister Daryl Vaez says. Hurricane Melissa also unleashed great flooding in Haiti, at least 23 people were reported killed, and 13 others were missing. Another 17 people suffered injuries, officials said.
No deaths were reported after Civil Defense evacuated more than 735,000 people across eastern Cuba. They were slowly starting to return home. After making its way through the Caribbean, Melissa plans to head towards Bermuda, but only as a category 2 storm, where it won’t make landfall. There will still be very strong effects of wind and rain on late Thursday.
