Hurricane Melissa Hits Jamaica, Heads Toward Cuba

The most powerful storm, recognized by Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa, has struck Jamaica with the utmost severity. Consequently, the heavy rain, robust winds, and massive floods have destroyed a large number of houses, hospitals, roads, and other infrastructures.

Currently, Jamaica is experiencing nighttime, and the destruction to the city is still unknown. The next morning, individuals will be able to see how the situation really is. Now, the hurricane is moving towards Cuba and Haiti, i.e north side. Both countries are getting ready to be held in a safe place.

Power and Phones Are Down Across Jamaica

Across Jamaica, many individuals can’t call anyone or use the internet. A service named NetBlocks has reported that due to the strong winds, which have caused the power lines to break, thousands of people are without electricity or phone service.

Over 15,000 Jamaicans are forced to stay in safe shelters overnight. More than 800 shelters, which are meant for the families who had to evacuate their homes, were set up by the government. The village of St. Elizabeth Parish is virtually flooded. A hospital in that area moved 75 patients to other facilities because the hospital had lost power.

Donald Trump’s Big Statement To Be Heard

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the damage across the island is “very bad.” He said hospitals, homes, and offices are broken or flooded. The southwest part of Jamaica faced the worst of the storm.

Right now, there are no official reports of deaths, but the government fears that some people may have lost their lives. The Prime Minister also said that teams will go out as soon as it is safe to help people and see how much damage was done.

Aid Groups Prepare to Help

Many aid groups are getting ready to send food, water, and medicine. Brian Bogart from the World Food Program said this storm could be one of the biggest disasters the Caribbean has ever seen.

He said it will be very hard to help everyone because bridges and roads are broken. “We are ready to help, but we need to know which areas need the most support,” he said.

Next Danger Alert: Cuba and Haiti

Presently, Hurricane Melissa is moving toward Cuba and Haiti. Experts say that it still has very strong winds up to 130 miles per hour (215 km/h), and maybe it could bring up to 25 inches of rain in some areas. This means there could be more big floods and landslides.

Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said more than 735,000 people have already been moved to the safe places in order to protect them. “It will be a very hard night for Cuba, but we will recover,” Cuba’s president said.

The government has already given a reminder and a warning to people in the eastern parts of Cuba, like Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas, to stay indoors and away from flood zones.

The United States Offers to Help

US President Donald Trump said America is ready to send help if Jamaica needs it. Speaking to reporters, he said, “We’re watching closely and we are ready to move forward. It’s doing huge damage.”

Meanwhile, in Miami, volunteers from a group called the Global Empowerment Mission are packing food, water, and other supplies to send to Jamaica and other islands that are hit by the hurricane.

Conclusion

As Hurricane Melissa has caused a huge amount of damage in Jamaica, flooding thousands of people are now in shelters and looking for help. The hurricane is going toward Cuba and Haiti, where people are preparing to be safe from strong winds and heavy rain. As the next sun rises, the world will be able to finally see how imperfect this storm really was. For now, Jamaica stands strong and ready to rebuild after one of the worst hurricanes in its history.