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DESTRUCTION: A group of people make their way through the streets of Santa Cruz, Jamaica, on October 29 after the passage of Hurricane Melissa. AP PHOTO - Matias DelacroixHURRICANE Melissa has battered Jamaica with four deaths, hundreds of homes flattened, thousands left without a roof over their heads, hospitals so badly damaged they had to be closed, and emergency relief supplies destroyed by flood waters two-storeys tall.
But, as assessment and recovery efforts began on October 29, Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness called on his countrymen to “hold out.”
He expressed the sentiment while speaking with a mother who was wading through flood water in her house in the parish of St Elizabeth, where the hurricane appeared to have done the most damage.
“I know its rough mummy, but you 'affi hold it out,” said Holness, as he explained authorities were doing assessments and relief supplies will come after.
Melissa, a category five hurricane, was the most powerful to have ever hit the island.
Jamaica’s minister for education, skills, youth and information Dr Dana Morris Dixon told the nation during a media conference on October 29 that it had been a difficult 24 hours.
Taking a break from the assessment and recovery efforts to update the public she said, “It looks really, really difficult in many parts of Jamaica. The images we are getting are really very devastating.”
Holness toured the island in a helicopter and filmed the scenes of devastation in St Elizabeth posting on his social media “I am now in St Elizabeth and images of destruction are all around. The damage is great, but we are going to devote all our energy to mount a strong recovery.”
In the video, still seas belied the damage it caused when Melissa, carrying winds up to 290 kph, whipped up the salty ocean water, mixed it with the rains and dumped it inland.
A group of people make their way through the streets of Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, on October 29 after the passage of Hurricane Melissa. AP PHOTO -
Water could still be seen in the yards of houses near the beach, while further inland, houses sported mud-covered lawns and the roads around them resembled river beds beginning to dry as the sun began to shine.
From above, pieces of galvanise looked like bits of paper strewn about the landscape as people could be seen examining the damage.
For many residents in the area, they would have suffered the fear of trying to escape rising flood waters by risking exposing themselves to the same winds that had torn the roof off their house.
Trees that once provided shade were seen laying on their sides, devoid of leaves, unceremoniously plucked and flung wherever the wind felt it belonged, including on top of people’s homes.
Holness toured the area and was seen speaking with a woman as he stood next to what presumably was a wrought-iron gate, that now lay bent and contorted on the ground, incapable of standing erect.
Residents’ cries were literal, with tears streaming down their faces as they surveyed their losses.
Some bore a look of resignation having seemingly having accepted that nature had won, while others appeared to be pondering their next move.
With major utilities affected, and no way of communicating with the outside world, a woman, who spotted the media with Holness used the opportunity to let her family know that she and her other relatives were safe.
Four dead, J’cans warned to remain cautious
Jamaica’s minister of local government and community development Desmond McKenzie confirmed there had been four deaths in the coastal parish as a result of the heavy winds and rain.
He said the deceased are three men and a woman but did not reveal their identities.
In a statement on October 29, McKenzie said their bodies were found after flood waters began receding.
He expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged people to remain cautious noting a flash flood watch is in effect for the island.
A resident tries to get past a mangled lightpole in Santa Cruz, Jamaica, on October 29. AP PHOTO -
"Heavy rains are expected to dump three to six inches of water across Jamaica today (October 29). Let us all be careful and do all we can to ensure that no more lives are lost.”
Mayor Richard Solomon said police in the parish are immobile as all the police cars were damaged in the floods.
“We are unable to do any rescuing or respond. We are trying to let people know that the situation here is devastating.”
Solomon said relief supplies were also washed away in 16-foot-tall flood waters that had destroyed the second floor of some buildings.
“The hurricane totally destroyed our storage facility at the corporation. The container is upside down and everything is damaged. As it relates to relief items we have absolutely nothing at all.”
Snr Supt Coleridge Minro described the situation as “very bad,” with churches, court buildings, government offices, supermarkets all badly damaged or totally destroyed.
Solomon anticipated the conditions in the area will worsen in the coming days and called on the government, NGO’s and the public to assist.
“We need all the help we can get. Conditions are going to deteriorate because persons are feeling it already. It is a frustrating time but we are appealing for calm as we try to respond as best as possible.”
Local govt minister: ‘It’s not an easy road’
McKenzie, in a line reminiscent of the Buju Banton song, warned, “It’s not going to be an easy road.”
He called for calm while the government tries to help affected communities.
The church of Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, sits damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, on October 29. AP PHOTO -
“It is going to take a lot of time. I know persons’ patience is not going to last for much longer because when you’re in need, persons want us to break the rules.
“We are prepared to do everything to accommodate speedy response but we also have to be mindful of the protocols that exist and we have to be accountable.”
He said search and rescue efforts were under way with the majority of distress calls coming from people trapped on roofs as flood waters in some areas were slow to recede.
McKenzie added more than 25,000 Jamaicans have been staying in shelters and predicted that number is set to increase.
“A lot of homes have been destroyed so more people are going to the shelters.”
He said the government will eventually have to look at how to deal with the numbers but added, for now, no one is to be turned away.
“Once we have done the assessment to see which (shelters) can be closed we will do so, but for the remainder of this week all shelters must remain open.”
People walk along a road after Hurricane Melissa passed through Spurr Tree, Jamaica, on October 29. AP PHOTO -
He noted amidst the loss and suffering, there were still reasons for some people to be happy.
McKenzie revealed three babies were delivered during the hurricane, including one in emergency conditions, describing them as “Melissa babies.”
“We want to commend the team who responded to that (emergency delivery). Two other deliveries occurred as well. One mother is resting comfortably while the other is under observation at hospital.”
Airports to reopen on October 30
Meanwhile, Dixon expressed confidence in the country’s ability to bounce back adding, “We are a strong people and we will get through it together.”
She added, in the meantime, the government has issued an “all clear” for the island and encourage critical agencies and community businesses to reopen.
“Critical service entities have been advised to mobilise immediately to restore power, water, and communication networks.
“The government is also encouraging supermarkets, wholesalers, gas stations, and pharmacies, particularly in the less affected areas, to reopen where possible, to ensure that communities have access to essential goods and services.”
As at noon on October 29, 77 per cent of the island was still without electricity.
Dixon thanked Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink for assisting telecom providers in connecting the communities with damaged infrastructure to the outside world.
Transport Minister Daryl Vaz meanwhile said the Norman Manley International Airport and the Ian Fleming International Airport has been reopened with commercial flights set to resume on October 30.
Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay will reopen but only for relief flights.
25 dead, 18 missing in Haiti
AP news is reporting Melissa has led to at least 25 deaths in Haiti while 18 people remain missing.
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness took this photo as he made an aerial tour on Wednesday to survey the widespread damage after Hurricane Melissa slammed into the island, a day earlier. PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW HOLNESS -
In a statement on October 30, Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said the majority of those dead and missing are from the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve, where a river burst its banks and flooded the village.
Ten of the 20 people killed there were reportedly children.
A resident told AP they fear what the coming days will bring as access to medicine, water and food in remain difficult given the political instability in the country.
In Cuba, authorities said more than 730,000 people remained in shelters as Melissa’s destruction was concentrated in the southwest and northwest of the island.
A Santiago de Cuba resident described the experience as “hell.”
Cubans fear the hurricane could worsen its economic crisis, which already has led to prolonged power blackouts along with fuel and food shortages.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on X, “As soon as conditions allow, we will begin the recovery. We are ready,”
Forecasters expect Melissa, which has now weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, to bring dangerous winds, flooding and storm surge to the Bahamas.
Bermuda is expected to feel some effects when it passes just west of the country on October 30.
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