Bermudian in Jamaica braces as Hurricane Melissa looms
A Bermudian stranded in Jamaica after an abruptly cancelled flight is unsure when she might be able to return home as the island faced a direct hit from a major hurricane.
While Hurricane Melissa is expected to batter Jamaica as a Category 5 storm today, Semora Noel-Chaé Trott said yesterday afternoon that its effects had not yet reached Montego Bay, a city popular with visitors tucked on the island’s northwest coast.
The storm, which has inched through the region over the past few days, was classed as a potential threat to Bermuda last night for the first time by the Bermuda Weather Service. The Emergency Measures Organisation was scheduled to meet this morning to review preparations.
The system was forecast to accelerate on a northwesterly course into the Atlantic after passing over the Bahamas, putting it on a potential track to pass over or close to Bermuda on Thursday night into Friday morning.
Ms Trott told The Royal Gazette: “We are doing well for now. Conditions have not picked up yet here in Montego Bay. However, we would rather be home in Bermuda, where we feel our safety is guaranteed.
“I believe we will weather the storm fine; however, being stuck in Jamaica is a concern, considering there may be structural damage at the airport.”
Ms Trott, who is visiting Jamaica with friends, had been scheduled to leave on Sunday afternoon.
She received an e-mail to check in for the trip home but a second notice came stating that her flight had been cancelled.
She said: “Prior to this, there was no communication from American Airlines, unlike other airlines that sent larger planes to accommodate passengers and added extra flights to ensure everyone's departure.
“On Friday, we attempted to rebook our flight for Saturday but the American Airlines website would not allow us to do so. After contacting the front desk, we were able to call the airline, and after a lengthy wait, we were informed that there were no available flights to accommodate the four members of my party.
“Notably, American Airlines still had one flight departing on Sunday in the morning. They could have either sent a bigger plane or pushed our flight up to accommodate evacuations.”
Ms Trott said on TikTok that while one or two seats had been offered on flights by other airlines, the prices had shot up to more than $2,000 and she did not want to leave her friends behind.
She said that they were able to secure a hotel room to shelter at Montego Bay.
Ms Trott said: “They put the chairs and stuff in the pool so they don’t become projectiles.
“Everything is still good here. People are walking around the resort. It’s still sunny. People are out on their balconies. The wind is not up; the seas are not rough yet.”
Ms Trott said that the hotel had provided several containers of food to last them the duration of the storm while its facilities were closed, but it lacked non-perishable items.
She said: “No, we were not expecting a five-course meal. We were expecting possibly some non-perishables because the stuff that we were given cannot fit in the fridge that is here, and if the electricity goes out for the island, non-perishable would have been ideal.
“We know that people have to go tend to their homes. We are not expecting non-essential staff to stay here but we are not staying here for free. We are paying to stay here.”
Hurricane Melissa was expected to make landfall in Jamaica this morning as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds reaching 175mph.
Wayne Caines, the chairman of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation’s board of directors, said the organisation was prepared to lend support to Jamaica.
In a statement, Mr Caines said: “Even ahead of Melissa’s landfall, we have already seen reports of substantial flooding in several communities, a stark reminder of how quickly conditions can deteriorate.
“As the Caribbean waits with bated breath, Carilec is being proactive to ensure that we are ready to support our member utility, JPSCo and the people of Jamaica.
“We also stand ready to support our members in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands who have been forecasted to be impacted by this hurricane.”
A spokeswoman for the organisation said that Carilec had begun to mobilise resources and co-ordinate support from members throughout the region to deploy crews as needed.
The spokeswoman added that the organisation was also in communication with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and other regional partners to co-ordinate transportation and logistical support for the post-disaster restoration effort.
Mr Caines said: “Our resilience and determination as Caribbean people will get us through this Hurricane.
“Once the storm has passed, we will work together to restore and rebuild our infrastructure and communities, helping our respective nations and the region as a whole emerge even stronger than before.”
The US-based National Hurricane Centre said yesterday: “Some fluctuations in intensity are likely before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica on Tuesday.
“However, Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as an extremely powerful major hurricane and will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas.”
Early forecasts suggest that Hurricane Melissa could speed near the island this week as a Category 1 hurricane.
Conditions in Bermuda are expected to deteriorate on Thursday, with gale-strength winds likely to deliver storm and hurricane-force gusts overnight before easing on Friday.
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