Jamaica declares island a threatened area as Tropical Storm Melissa nears

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has formally declared Jamaica a threatened area under the Disaster Risk Management Act, activating enhanced emergency powers as Tropical Storm Melissa continues its approach toward the island.

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The declaration, issued Friday following technical advice from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, allows authorities to swiftly deploy resources to safeguard lives, infrastructure, and critical services.

Under the expanded measures, the Government is also cracking down on price gouging. A Trade Order issued by the Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce prohibits retailers from increasing prices on essential goods, including food, water, medical supplies, and emergency equipment, for the duration of the alert. Any breach may result in fines of up to $1 million in Parish Court.

Holness reiterated the Government’s commitment to protecting citizens throughout the heightened alert period. He said all relevant agencies have been instructed to execute preparedness plans, including ensuring shelter readiness and the pre-positioning of supplies.

“There will be zero tolerance for price gouging,” the Prime Minister said. “We are taking every precaution to ensure that preparedness measures are in place and that citizens are not subject to exploitation during this time.”

The public is urged to closely monitor updates from the Meteorological Service and ODPEM and to take all necessary safety precautions as the storm draws nearer.

TS Melissa is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane by Sunday as it lashes the Caribbean with heavy rain and destructive winds

Hurricane conditions are expected to first hit southern Haiti on Saturday and then reach Jamaica on Saturday night or Sunday morning.

It could potentially be the strongest hurricane to impact Jamaica in more than 35 years and could potentially be a multi-day major hurricane event Sunday through Tuesday as Melissa strengthens and moves extremely slowly near or south of the island.

On Friday evening, Tropical Storm Melissa continued to churn about 215 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, moving at only 2mph. This extremely slow movement looks to be the trend for several more days, which gives it more opportunity to significantly intensify.

The current track shows Melissa becoming a hurricane on Saturday and a major hurricane on Sunday and then undergoing rapid strengthening through Monday, becoming a Category 4.