Last-minute preparations for Hurricane Melissa under way in Spanish Town

A patient at Spanish Town General Hospital left her bed Sunday to make room for emergency cases as Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica. It highlighted the growing preparations and strain on facilities ahead of the Category 4 system.

“Well, my son come for me, as I am healing well enough to move, this will create space for emergency cases," said Violet Tomlinson who is recovering from an illness.

Residents were seen boarding up homes and businesses, placing sandbags, and transporting valuables.

The Meteorological Service warns the hurricane could bring more than 30 inches of rain and storm surges along the southern coast. Melissa is expected to make landfall Monday night or Tuesday morning, moving slowly and raising the risk of widespread flooding and landslides.

Along Young Street in the old capital, men were seen nailing plywood over business windows, while residents expressed mixed reactions to the approaching hurricane.

“As far as I see, dem sey young bird don’t know storm, and although some are thinking that is AI (artificial intelligence) thing, mi still batten down and hoping for the best,” one resident said.

Melore Reid added, “We don’t know if the hurricane will hit us, but we can only do what we can to minimise damage caused.”

- Rasbert Turner

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