Caribbean Braces for Major Flooding as Tropical Stormโ Melissa Stalls
KINGSTON, Jamaicaโค – Tropical Storm melissaโฃ isโ posing a significant flood โthreatโ to Jamaica, the โDominican Republic, andโ the Bahamas asโ itโ remains nearly stationary inโ the Caribbean Sea. Authoritiesโ across the region are taking โproactive measures, including evacuationsโ and closures, to prepare for potentially life-threateningโค rainfall.
Melissa,โ the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, has already caused โdamage in the Dominican Republic, impacting โคnearly 200 homes and disrupting water service โฃto over half a million customers. Downedโฃ trees, โtraffic lights,โค and minor landslides โฃhave also been reported. All public schools and government offices in 12 provinces under alert are closed Friday, and more โฃthan two dozen โฃcommunities are isolated due โขto floodwaters. Dominican President Luis Abinader โคemphasizedโ the priority is “to save lives,” citing โค”the enormous amount of rain” โas the primary risk. โขMandatory evacuations are in โฃeffect for areas under alert.
In Jamaica, residents are preparing for the worst.โ Alton Williams of Mandeville stated, โค”I moved my car toโ higher โground andโข gathered all essential documents justโฃ in case.” Veronica James inโข eastern โKingston is monitoring updates โand keeping her โคchildren informed,with a “small bag ready with medicine and important papers” โฃshould evacuation become necessary. Schools, health centers,โ and government offices โฃacross Jamaica closedโฃ Thursday, and authorities are preparing to shut down all airports within 24โ hours โif aโ hurricane warning is issued. โข More thanโฃ 650 shelters have been activated.
Jamaican Prime Ministerโค Andrew Holnessโข acknowledged the challenges posed by the storm’s slow movement, butโข affirmed, โค”Jamaica is at risk. There is โขaโ threat.” The public sector will close by Friday afternoon.
The Bahamas’ Foreignโ Affairs Ministry is โฃevacuating Bahamianโ students from Jamaica on Fridayโ in anticipation of the storm.
the Atlantic โขhurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The U.S.Nationalโ Oceanicโ and Atmosphericโข Management predicted an above-normal season, forecasting 13 โคto 18 named storms.
