Jamaica Resident Prepares for Category 5 Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa's Approach to Jamaica

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with 165 mph winds, is projected to make landfall in Jamaica by Tuesday morning.
• ⚠️ Residents and tourists are bracing for potential flooding and mudslides as the storm nears.

On-the-Ground Conditions in Lucea, Hanover

• ☀️ Currently, conditions on the west end of the island are calm and uneventful, with minimal wind.
• 🏨 Guests from other properties without generators have been accommodated at the Blue Paloma Bed & Breakfast.

Property Preparations and Resilience

• 🏠 The Blue Paloma Bed & Breakfast has moved guests inland to a property farther from the ocean.
• 🛠️ The coastal property is a resilient concrete structure with hurricane straps, J-bolts, and shutters.
• ⚡ Preparations include 50 gallons of diesel for the generator, 100-200 lbs of propane, and 12,500 gallons of water.

Storm Path and Intensity

• 📈 Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified over the weekend and has shifted its path, now targeting Jamaica more directly.
• ✈️ Hurricane hunters encountered winds exceeding 200 mph in the eyewall, forcing an early evacuation.
• 🌊 The storm is expected to bring 9-13 feet of storm surge to Jamaica and significant rainfall, potentially leading to catastrophic flooding and landslides.

Regional Impact Forecast

• 🇨🇺 Following Jamaica, Melissa is expected to move over Cuba and then into the open Atlantic.
• 🇭🇹 Eastern Cuba may receive 20-30 inches of rainfall, and Haiti could see 15 inches.
• 🇺🇸 The United States is expected to be largely spared direct impacts, with effects remaining farther south.