Washington DC [US], October 27 (ANI): Authorities in at least five countries have begun evacuating low-lying areas in preparation for record rainfall expected from Hurricane Melissa, which has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm moving west across the Caribbean, the New York Times reported on Sunday (local time).
Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the Bahamas have opened shelters and initiated emergency preparations as experts warned that Hurricane Melissa could become the strongest storm to make landfall in Jamaica’s recorded history, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. The agency reported that storm surges could reach eight feet or more in coastal areas.
According to the New York Times, southwestern Haiti and portions of Jamaica are bracing for “catastrophic” flash flooding and landslides from the fast-developing hurricane, which has already claimed at least four lives.
Evan Thompson, Director of Jamaica’s Meteorological Service, said hurricane conditions are expected to hit Jamaica starting Monday, with the storm projected to move across the country on Tuesday.
“There is a slight shift in the track, moving it a little west of where it was originally projected,” he said. “We earlier said it would make impact or landfall along the coast of Clarendon, but it now seems to be shifted more toward Manchester.” Meteorologists described rainfall projections of up to 35 inches as “unprecedented.”
“We are expecting that a lot of rainfall will continue to douse the island,” Thompson added.
In Cuba, authorities have been cleaning streets to prevent clogged drains and flying debris, trimming trees, and removing traffic lights as coastal communities were ordered to evacuate. Six provinces are under a hurricane watch, according to the New York Times.
Nearly 4,000 people have already been evacuated, while several southern provinces remain on red alert. Some bridges and homes sustained damage from heavy rains even before the storm’s official arrival. In the Dominican Republic, 4,000 families have received cash assistance, while authorities have positioned food supplies in eastern Cuba to feed 275,000 people for up to 60 days.
In Jamaica, disaster management committees have been activated and are fully prepared. Residents appear to be taking the storm seriously, with some beginning to panic, said Norman Scott, mayor of Spanish Town, located just west of the capital, Kingston. (ANI)
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