What to know as Jamaica braces for Hurricane Melissa impact

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There are two specific periods during the year that are favorable for the development of hurricanes and their impact on Jamaica.

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The first occurs from August to mid-September, and the second occurs in the last two weeks of October.

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Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean island nation on Tuesday, bringing with it what climate experts predict will be more than a year's worth of rain in the coming days.

The storm, classified as a Category 5 with winds of up to 295 km/h, is already believed to be the strongest storm to hit Jamaica since detailed records were kept 174 years ago.

According to the Jamaica Meteorological Service.During hurricane season, an average of 10 tropical storms form in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.

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Contingency plans

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness uses government main site keep its citizens up to date with the latest news and information during the hurricane and its aftermath.

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The government is urging its 2.8 million residents to stay indoors during the storm, which Jamaica's Cabinet Minister Daryl Vase says will be the largest since Hurricane Gilbert 37 years ago.

Vaz warned the island's youth and young adults to stay safe as they had never experienced a hurricane of such strength.

“The eye of a hurricane leads to a lull in wind and rain, and this is dangerous,” This is stated in the VAZ message..

The government also said it has no plans to shut down the power grid after 240,000 customers were left without power, with about 35% of homes and businesses served by Jamaica Public Service Co.

“Some [power] Generating plants, critical high-voltage substations, power transmission and distribution lines across the island were knocked out of service due to hurricane-force winds and lightning.” Vaz reported.

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Jamaica support

The government is also directing relief efforts to a new website – supportjamaica.gov.jm — and warned those wishing to make a donation to protect themselves from scammers.

“We have already become aware of some nefarious people trying to raise money on behalf of Jamaica,” said Jamaican Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon.

“We remind you that this will be an official website. If it does not have .gov.jm, it is not legitimate, it is not an official website of the Government of Jamaica.”

World Food Program said it was working with partners to coordinate funds and relief supplies for Jamaica.

“Access is going to be a major issue,” said Brian Bogart, chief organization officer at the Caribbean Multi-Country Office in Barbados.

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“If the storm surge is severe, it will be difficult to bring in humanitarian personnel and transport food and relief supplies – alternative airstrips are being prepared.”

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Storms that have hit the island recently

Hurricane Beryl On July 3, 2024, a Category 4 hurricane hit the island, killing two people and injuring 60. In addition to the damage, Beryl also caused widespread power outages and destroyed communications infrastructure.

In October 2012 Hurricane Sandy struck the eastern tip of the country as a Category 1 storm. Some homes, businesses, schools, churches, farms and roads suffered minor to major damage.

Hurricane Gustav in August 2008 there was a strike that killed 10 people after floods and landslides affected some areas. Several houses were washed away and some roads were damaged and rendered inaccessible.

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