Prime Minister Holness Outlines Plan For Jamaica’s Quick Recovery From Hurricane Melissa

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has outlined a multi-layered strategy for Jamaica’s quick recovery, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa that is expected to move over the country on Monday night and early Tuesday.

Prime Minister Andrew HolnessThe category 5 hurricane, packing sustained maximum winds of 165 miles per hour (mph) is expected to travel across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.

The hurricane is located about 145 mils of Kingston and is moving toward the west near three mph.

“A slow turn toward the northwest and north is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the northeast and a faster forward speed on Tuesday. A northeastward motion is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move over Jamaica tonight and early Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night,

and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC)  said in its latest bulleting.

In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Holness said that the government has created a comprehensive multi-layered disaster risk financing framework that will ensure a quick and effective post-disaster response.

“We have the National Natural Disaster Risk Fund and the Contingency Fund, which we will use to start the relief and recovery process. Beyond these, there are additional layers of insurance protection that are triggered once specific impact thresholds are met, along with contingent credit facilities,” Holness said.

He said additionally, the National Works Agency (NWA), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), in collaboration with local government and the island’s utility companies, are prepared to reopen roads, restore access and reinstate service to ensure a quick recovery.

“The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, supported by the JDF, is fully prepared to lead the humanitarian relief effort and the data gathering for damage assessment. Please play your part in having your identification and other documentation ready if you have to apply or register for relief,” Holness urged citizens.

He said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is ready to offer support to farmers and fishers to ensure that they are back out in the field as soon as possible, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness is making plans for major mosquito- and other vector-control initiatives immediately after the hurricane, to avoid outbreaks of diseases, especially dengue.

Prime Minister Holness in his broadcast recognised front-line workers and healthcare professionals “who will be out there risking their lives to protect ours and to serve us”.

He also appealed to the public to maintain peace and observe the laws and the various orders issued but assured that “the security forces will ensure there is no break in public order during and after the hurricane”.

While urging citizens to prepare for the worst, Holness encouraged the population to find strength in faith and prayer.

“While we must prepare for the worst, let us also pray for the best. In every adversity, we have found strength, not only in our resilience but in the power of prayer,” Holness said, encouraging families to gather and pray for protection, calm and each other, expressing trust that God will carry the nation safely through the storm.

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Desmond McKenzie, Monday reiterated that shelters across Jamaica are safe spaces for people who live in communities vulnerable to severe weather events such as Hurricane Melissa, and is urging them to go to these facilities to see out the impending weather system.

“I am aware of reports in the media today, which indicate that some people are concerned that they will not be secure if they use the shelters. I want to put everyone at ease where this is concerned. Every one of our over 881 shelters across Jamaica is run by a shelter manager who has a support team, and they are at the facility before, during, and after the Hurricane,” said McKenzie said in a statement.

He said that men and women are housed separately, except where whole families are being accommodated at the shelter and that the shelters are clean and are provisioned with all necessary supplies to ensure that all hygienic and public health standards are maintained.

“It is critical that persons, especially in vulnerable areas, use these shelters, which have been selected and prepared to ensure their safety from the hurricane. I urge you not to be crippled by fear, or discouraged by rumours. The only purpose of the shelters is your safety. Your Government is not callous or dismissive of your anxieties about leaving your homes for what could be a few days at least.

“However, I urge you to remember that personal, community, and national recovery from this historically serious hurricane is only possible if you are alive and well to make it happen. We want every single person in this country to be alive and accounted for when Melissa is over,” said McKenzie.

“I therefore call on you to co-operate with the agents of the ODPEM, the disaster co-ordinators and the security forces if you live in a specially vulnerable area. Please lock up your houses, take the things you need and move out temporarily. If you can stay with friends or relatives, please do so.

“If this is not possible, please take whatever supplies you need, including food, water and any medicines, use the buses being provided, and go to the shelter nearest to you to see out the passage of Hurricane Melissa. These facilities are literally your shelter from the storm, and I call on you to use them,”  McKenzie said in the statement.

Meanwhile,  the NHC said that a hurricane watch is in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas,  Turks and Caicos Islands,  while a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Haiti, and the Cuban province of Las Tunas

The NHC said that 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.

Tropical storm conditions are occurring in Jamaica, and catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force wind conditions are expected to begin tonight and continue into early Tuesday.

Within the eyewall, total structural failure is likely, especially in higher elevation areas where wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains could be up to 30 per cent stronger.

Melissa is expected to bring rainfall of 15 to 30 inches to portions of Jamaica and additional rainfall of eight to 16 inches for southern Hispaniola through Wednesday.

Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands during the next several days, and the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda later this week.