Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Monday that Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, could cause unprecedented devastation in the west of the country if it hits the region with its full force.
“I don't think there is any infrastructure in this region that could withstand a Category 5 storm, so there could be significant disruption,”Holness said in an interview on CNN.
The cyclone, with winds of up to 280 km/h, is expected to make landfall Monday night or early Tuesday, after causing death and destruction in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Holness announced that the government is preparing a"swift and effective" response to the threat of Melissa, mobilizing emergency resources and coordinating the work of national agencies.
“We have the National Natural Disaster Risk Fund and the Contingency Fund, which we will use to begin the relief and recovery process,” the prime minister explained in a message to the nation. He added that there are complementary insurance policies and contingent credit lines that will be activated if the impact reaches critical thresholds.
The storm, which strengthened in a few hours to the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale, maintains strong gusts of wind with a trajectory turning north that brings it dangerously close to the area of Negril, Montego Bay and Hanover, densely populated areas with high tourist activity.
The National Works Agency, the Jamaica Defence Force, and the National Solid Waste Management Authority are prepared to respond in the first hours after the hurricane hits.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security, in coordination with the JDF, will lead the humanitarian aid and damage assessment process. Holness urged citizens to cooperate with authorities and maintain their documentation in order to facilitate access to assistance.
The government has also put the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining on alert to provide support to farmers and fishermen, sectors that are particularly vulnerable in the event of a category 1 hurricane. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is developing strategies to prevent outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, which could proliferate due to the accumulation of water following flooding.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that “destructive winds, storm surge, and catastrophic flooding will worsen across Jamaica throughout the day and into the evening.” Local weather officials estimate rainfall associated with Melissa will drop 15 to 30 inches (38 to 76 centimeters) in some areas.
Holness called for calm and to avoid any disturbance of public order.
“Security forces will ensure that no disruption occurs during and after the hurricane passes,” he emphasized.
“While we must prepare for the worst, let us also pray for the best. In all adversity, we have found strength, not only in our resilience, but also in the power of prayer,” the prime minister added in his message to the nation.
As a preventative measure, the Jamaican government has set up shelters across the country since Sunday.
Melissa's impact is not limited to Jamaica. The United Nations announced the activation of its Anticipatory Action mechanism in Cuba, where more than 100 tons of food and emergency supplies will be distributed to the most vulnerable areas.
The Cuban Meteorological Institute forecasts that the hurricane will make landfall on the eastern tip of the island early Wednesday morning, bringing torrential rains, strong winds and storm surges.
Melissa's trajectory and intensity have led regional authorities to raise the alert to the maximum level to deal with one of the most powerful storms of the season, whose destructive potential could surpass recent historic events in the Caribbean basin.
NHC specialists reminded the public that the most deadly effects of these cyclones are usually flooding and rising sea levels rather than winds."Being prepared, heeding warnings, and avoiding exposure are vital to saving lives," they concluded in their latest advisory.
