Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane with gusts of up to 185 mph. It then hit eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm. Now it is moving quickly northeast over the Caribbean. The storm has caused a lot of damage and loss of life on many island nations, leaving a path of destruction that is hard to believe.
How bad things are in Jamaica and Cuba
Officials say that Jamaica has suffered the most damage from the storm, with sights of destruction that have never been seen before in the country’s history.
Jamaica: Melissa was the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica. Strong winds tore roofs off of homes and buildings, leaving some of them with only their frames. Blackouts that affected almost 80% of the country made it harder to assess damage and rescue people.
Displacement: More than 25,000 Jamaicans were looking for shelter as officials tried to go to villages that were cut off and underwater.
Economic Impact: The property intelligence company Cotality says that the damage in Jamaica will be between $5 billion and $10 billion. Small companies and most single-family houses have very little insurance, which makes them quite susceptible.
Airlift Standstill: Flooded streets and airports stopped assistance operations, leaving some 25,000 visitors stuck. Commercial flights probably won’t start up again until the weekend, but emergency supply planes might be able to land as early as Thursday.
Cuba: Melissa hit shore near Santiago de Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. As it crossed the island, it became a Category 2 storm. Heavy rain caused landslides and serious flooding, with the Charco Mono Dam overflowing, which led to rescue efforts. Before the storm hit, Cuban officials had moved more than 735,000 people out of the way.
The hurricane has also caused further deaths in the area, notably in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Current Track and Threats to Come
At 11 a.m. New York time (EST), Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 100 miles (161 kilometers) per hour, making it a Category 2 hurricane.
Bahamas: The hurricane should get to the Bahamas by Wednesday afternoon. Forecasters say that gusts might be strong enough to knock down trees and power lines, and that a storm surge of 4 to 7 feet above normally dry ground could happen in the southeastern Bahamas.
In Bermuda, Melissa is moving quickly to the northeast, and the island’s meteorological department has issued a hurricane warning. By late Thursday or Thursday night, the storm should pass near or to the west of the island. By late Friday or early Saturday, it should diminish into an extra-tropical cyclone.
International Aid Efforts Get Going
International aid is getting ready to help because of the “truly shocking” scenes of destruction:
The US State Department is sending search-and-rescue teams and regional disaster experts to help coordinate efforts across the Caribbean.
The UK is ready to give full support. They have already sent a Royal Navy ship and fast deployment personnel to the area.
Local Aid: Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has sent out an urgent request for help, asking for things like mattresses, pillows for shelters, and chainsaws to clear away debris.