‘Communities Will Not Survive’: Jamaica Prepares For Worst Ever Storm As Melissa Intensifies to Category 5

TIME

Hurricane Melissa intensified to a Category 5 storm on Monday amid forecasts of “life-threatening flash flooding,” landslides, and “destructive winds” expected to impact Jamaica ahead of its landfall on Tuesday.

Transcript

00:00Based on current assessments, all of Jamaica will likely be affected by hurricane conditions,

00:05meaning heavy rains and winds above 100 miles per hour.

00:08It is also likely that hurricane conditions could linger over Jamaica

00:12due to the slow-moving nature of this system.

00:16Given the extended days of rains leading up to landfall and the expected inundation from the actual passage,

00:23we can expect general flash floodings across the island.

00:27However, low-lying areas, coastal areas, river courses, gullies and other waterways

00:32will overflow either from excess rain or storm surges.

00:37By all assessments of the current situation, while we pray for the best,

00:40hour by hour, it is becoming apparent that the impact of Hurricane Melissa

00:46could be greater than hurricane burial, certainly in terms of rainfall and flooding.

00:51We can lessen damage and speed up recovery by taking preparatory

00:55and precautionary measures before the impact of the hurricane.

00:59It is expected that Hurricane Melissa will make landfall on Tuesday.

01:04Today, I signed a compulsory evacuation order for several communities along the south coast,

01:10which will empower ADPEM to act as necessary to have persons evacuated

01:15from high-risk areas from high-risk areas to save lives.

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