As the extremely dangerous and life-threatening Hurricane Melissa barrels toward Jamaica, the chief executive of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation is urging vulnerable residents to seek refuge in the 42 emergency shelters activated across the parish. He acknowledged that the shelters are “not as comfortable as your homes” but emphasised they are crucial safe places amid the catastrophic storm.
The latest advisory, issued at 11:00 a.m. EDT on October 28, warns that Jamaica is under threat of widespread infrastructure failure, catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and destructive winds, which are expected to persist throughout the island.
Kevin McIndoe, CEO of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, reported that as of 4:00 p.m. on October 27, approximately 600 people were at shelters, with the figure expected to grow as hurricane-force winds begin. The parish’s emergency operations center was operationalised at 7:00 p.m. on October 26.
Despite the serious threat, particularly in vulnerable, low-lying areas, some residents are refusing to relocate, citing poor shelter conditions.
“We’re not leaving here, the conditions are terrible at the shelter, there’s nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep,” one resident stated. He added that he and his family will be braving the hurricane at home, relying on divine protection despite the serious threat of storm surges.
Shelly-Ann McCalla, the shelter manager at Morant Bay Primary School, acknowledged that uncomfortable conditions often deter vulnerable people. “A lot of people would come out but the facilities are not really here for them,” she said. She noted that her facility, which serves communities like Bamboo River and Duhaney Pen, had approximately 60 occupants as of the afternoon on October 28, compared to 86 during Hurricane Beryl last year.
“Some of them, when they come, there are no blankets, no cots, [and] the food, some of them have been here since Thursday [October 23] with children… and some of them definitely have nothing to eat,” McCalla shared.
McIndoe urged persons seeking refuge to bring their own linen and at least two days’ supply of food. While the municipal corporation provides blankets and bedding, the supply is not infinite. He added that the Ministry of Labour assists in providing meals once the shelters are operational, but logistics and resource mobilisation take time.
McIndoe also asked that any charitable donations of hot meals or supplies be coordinated directly through the St Thomas Municipal Corporation to ensure equitable distribution across all operational shelters.
The National Hurricane Center also detailed the following regional threats:
- Haiti and the Dominican Republic: Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected across southwestern Haiti and southern portions of the Dominican Republic through midweek. Extensive damage and isolation of communities are expected, with tropical storm conditions starting October 28.
- Eastern Cuba: Heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and landslides are expected soon. Life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are likely to begin later October 28.
- South-eastern and Central Bahama: Hurricane conditions, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rainfall are expected across portions of the southeastern and central Bahamas on October 29.
