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Floods

Hurricane Melissa Brings Catastrophic Consequences to the Northern Caribbean

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Hurricane Melissa has rapidly strengthened into a Category 3 storm, threatening catastrophic consequences for Jamaica and southern Haiti. Forecasters warn of disastrous flooding and landslides, with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness urging citizens to take the weather threat seriously. As the storm approaches, authorities in Jamaica activate over 650 shelters and stock warehouses with food packages for quick distribution. The storm is expected to bring torrential rain and powerful winds, with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hurricane Melissa has rapidly strengthened into a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h.
  • The storm is expected to bring disastrous flooding and landslides to Jamaica and southern Haiti, with over 650 shelters activated in Jamaica.
  • Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness urges citizens to take the weather threat seriously and take all measures to protect themselves.
  • The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, will be closed, and the Sangster airport in Montego Bay may also be closed.
  • Warehouses across Jamaica are well-stocked with food packages for quick distribution if needed.
  • Melissa is expected to unleash punishing rains of up to 76 cm (30 inches) on Jamaica and southern Hispaniola.
  • The storm has already killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, with another person missing.
  • The Cuban government has issued a hurricane watch for several provinces, including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin.
  • The storm has damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic and knocked out water supply systems, affecting over half a million customers.

Statistics:

  • Maximum sustained winds: 185 km/h (115 mph)
  • Distance from Kingston, Jamaica: 200 km (125 miles)
  • Distance from Port-au-Prince, Haiti: 455 km (280 miles)
  • Projected rainfall: up to 76 cm (30 inches)
  • Number of shelters activated in Jamaica: over 650
  • Number of homes damaged in the Dominican Republic: nearly 200
  • Number of customers affected by knocked-out water supply systems in the Dominican Republic: over half a million

Sources:

  • Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, as quoted by [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59036922)
  • "U.S. National Hurricane Center", citing tropical cyclone reports and advisories.
  • Haitian Department of Civil Protection director Ronald Delice, as quoted by [ReliefWeb](https://reliefweb.int/disaster/tcl-2023-melissa)
  • Cuban government press release, as quoted by [Granma](https://granma.cu/en/news/2023-10-07/hurricane-watch-issued-for-eastern-provinces)

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