A representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said the Category 5 system “will be the strongest in the world this year,” putting a million people in immediate danger, “including families still recovering from Hurricane Beryl” which hit the island only 16 months ago.
“Roofs will be tested. The waters will rise. Isolation will become a harsh reality for many,” said Necephor Mghendi, head of the IFRC delegation to the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.
‘Total structural failure’
“A total structural failure is likely,” said Anne-Claire Fontan, a tropical cyclone specialist at the World Meteorological Organization.WMO), citing the United States National Hurricane Center in Miami.
“I have never seen this sentence before… it is a huge impact that is expected to happen in Jamaica,” she said.
Sustained winds of 175 miles per hour have been reported as the system moves west toward Jamaica on Tuesday morning. Heavy rains continue in the region, with deaths already reported in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Ms Fontan explained that the system will deliver three times the normal amount of rainfall for a rainy month in Jamaica, or as much as 700 millimeters (27.5 inches).
Catastrophic floods, landslides
“It means that there will be catastrophic floods and numerous landslides,” she explained. “In addition to the rain and destructive winds, you can also expect a storm surge with a height of three to four meters along with destructive waves on the south coast of Jamaica.”
Speaking from Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, the IFRC’s Mr Mghendi said that while Melissa is moving at a very slow speed – around six kilometers per hour – the ‘extreme’ rainfall and winds are expected to cause ‘extensive damage to infrastructure, isolating communities and cutting off essential services for days, if not weeks’.
“The humanitarian threat is serious and immediate,” he said.
Many families are still rebuilding from the effects of Beryl last year and restoring their livelihoods.
Reconstruction of Beryl, wiped out
“Melissa is now threatening the same communities and perhaps all activity will be wiped out,” he warned. “This is an example of how… extreme climate weather events can actually cause shocks to communities and increase the capacities to withstand them,” he explained.
The IFRC official further stressed that coastal communities remain under financial pressure, and informal settlements are at risk from strong winds and soils already saturated by the rainy season, with an “increased risk of landslides”.
“The first task is to save as many lives as possible during this event,” said Jens Laerke, the spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.OCHA), explaining that this is “why we’re seeing evacuations happening, shelters being built… advisories going out.”
IFRC’s Mr Mghendi said authorities in Jamaica have prepared some 800 shelters and volunteers are supporting evacuations, helping distribute relief supplies and amplifying early warning messages.
Extensive preparation by UN agencies
OCHA spokesperson Mr Laerke added that a UN-facilitated anticipation mechanism has been activated in Cuba and Haiti, which are in the hurricane’s path, leading to an allocation of $4 million from the UN. Central Emergency Aid Fund (CERF) to pre-position food, water, hygiene items and health supplies.
“What will be people’s basic survival needs? Food, clean water… shelter and of course medical care,” he said, explaining that when massive floods occur, there is a shortage of clean water, leading to an increase in health and epidemic risks.
Asked about the availability of relief supplies, IFRC’s Mr Mghendi said there were sufficient supplies in Jamaica itself to provide immediate relief to about 800 households. In addition, supplies for 60,000 households could be delivered “within four hours” to Jamaica and other countries such as the Bahamas, he said.
The world must ‘come together’
“After we release them, there will be a need for replenishment and that is where we hope for global solidarity,” Mr Mghendi stressed.
“Events like this bring the world together and we expect that will be the case. This is one of the storms of the century and I believe the global community will come together to respond collectively,” he concluded.
#Catastrophic #Hurricane #Melissa #hours #making #landfall #Jamaica