00:00And right now we are tracking Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 storm exploding in strength.
00:05It is expected to make landfall in Jamaica and it could be the strongest hurricane to ever hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851.
00:14And residents are already bracing for impact, seen making those last-second preparations this morning.
00:20But within just the last hour, Jamaican officials said the time to prepare is over
00:24and warned that Melissa could bring massive flooding and cause some major catastrophic damage.
00:29Let's take a live look right now at Kingston, Jamaica.
00:31As the storm barrels towards the Caribbean nation, we could see the waves really kicking up.
00:37And this is just the beginning.
00:40And we do have live team coverage for you this afternoon.
00:42Our weather authority meteorologist Amanda Pappas is standing by with the latest on the storm's track.
00:46But we want to begin with Local 10's Aaron Maben.
00:48He is live on the ground in Montego Bay.
00:50And Aaron, how are things looking there right now?
00:55Well, here in Montego Bay on the northwest part of the island,
00:59and things have actually been quite light.
01:01We haven't even seen rain at all today.
01:03But remember, this slow-moving monster storm is coming up from the south.
01:08So in Kingston, there's already rain and heavier wind conditions.
01:13Guys, things are expected to take a dangerous and possibly destructive turn.
01:19Final urgent preps before Hurricane Melissa strikes Jamaica.
01:24It's quite scary because I've never experienced a hurricane.
01:28So it's a little bit anxiety-provoking.
01:30The country is bracing for what could be the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall here.
01:36It looks serious.
01:37I mean, obviously, with this kind of, I mean, I live in Florida for so long that we are accustomed to the hurricane.
01:43But obviously, you have to take the warning.
01:45But this one looks very intense.
01:46Riyad Mohamed is from Pembroke Pines.
01:49With airports closed, he's stuck in Montego Bay until the storm passes.
01:54Well, it's a bit uneasy because I'm here by myself.
01:57My family is back home.
01:58Hurricane Melissa is expected to produce record rainfall and damaging winds.
02:03Leaders say catastrophic flooding and landslides are likely.
02:07What is your greatest fear right now?
02:09Our greatest fear in Montego Bay is always flooding.
02:12Of course, we'll get gusty winds that will cause devastation.
02:16We had that last year in burial.
02:18We had trees falling across the main roads and utility wires and all of that.
02:23It caused a major disruption.
02:25Here in Montego Bay, crews have brought out the big machinery like this right here
02:29to clean out gullies and other drainage systems.
02:33You are looking at a last-minute fight to prevent flooding.
02:38Mandatory evacuations were ordered in seven flood-prone communities
02:41across Jamaica, some refusing to leave.
02:45Now, tourists and locals are preparing to hunker down
02:48before the historic storm hit.
02:51The damage is going to be catastrophic.
02:53It's just, obviously, loss of life is going to be a primary thing to be concerned with
02:59and then see what the aftermath is.
03:04And right now, hundreds of shelters are open across the country.
03:08When we talked one-on-one today with the mayor of Montego Bay,
03:12he said that the convention center has now opened as a shelter.
03:16It's specifically for tourists who are vacationing here
03:19and got stuck when the airports shut down.
03:23We're live in Montego Bay tonight.
03:25Aaron Maben, Local 10 News.
03:27And that's the scariest part is when the airport shuts down
03:29and that opportunity to leave is gone.
03:33Aaron, at the hotel you're staying at,
03:35I'm sure they're taking their own preparations to make sure anyone who is there is safe.
03:39Have people decided to ride out the storm for the hotel,
03:42or you think they're all going to be going to that convention center
03:43as their best bet to stay safe?
03:45You know, Janice, when we were talking to people earlier today,
03:50they plan on staying here at the hotel.
03:53And there's actually this eeriness here right now
03:56because we all know this storm is coming up from the south.
03:59I'm not sure if you can hear it.
04:00There's a Bob Marley tribute band playing right now.
04:03And there's also people by the pool and in the ocean.
04:07That's going to be changing in the next coming hours.
04:09And of course, tomorrow when Melissa strikes.
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