KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is warning of the possibility of catastrophic flooding and landslides, particularly in Haiti and Jamaica, as a near-stationary Tropical Storm Melissa moves closer to these countries.
CDEMA, the region’s central disaster preparedness agency, also warned that rainfall projections over the next 24 to 48 hours suggest heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding in the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest bulletin on Friday that the storm could bring life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in portions of Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend.
It said that the storm, which is forecast to become a hurricane by Saturday and a major hurricane by Sunday, is about 165 miles south-southeast of Kingston, the Jamaican capital, and 275 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.
It has maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (mph). A hurricane watch has gone into effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince, Jamaica.
A hurricane watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
“Interests elsewhere in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba should monitor the progress of Melissa. A hurricane warning may be required for Jamaica later today,” the NHC said, adding that Melissa “is nearly stationary, but a slow drift toward the northeast and north is expected later today and tonight.
“A westward drift is then forecast to begin on Saturday and continue through Monday. On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to move near or south of Jamaica early next week.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next day or so, followed by rapid intensification this weekend. Melissa is forecast to become a hurricane by Saturday and a major hurricane by Sunday.”
The NHC said that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area in Haiti on Saturday and in Jamaica beginning late Saturday or Sunday.
“Melissa is expected to bring eight to 14 inches of rain to the southern Dominican Republic, southern Haiti, and eastern Jamaica through Sunday night, with locally higher amounts possible.
“Additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Sunday night; however, uncertainty in Melissa’s track and forward speed reduces confidence in exact totals.
“Significant, life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides are expected in the southern Dominican Republic and eastern Jamaica, with catastrophic flash flooding and landslides anticipated in southern Haiti.”
CDEMA said in Jamaica, a total of 881 emergency shelters across the island have been placed on stand-by, along with shelter managers, to support evacuation and emergency housing needs.
It said in Haiti, the Hydrometeorological Unit has raised the alert level from Yellow to Orange for the Southern and Western regions, and that flooding and landslides have been reported in many areas, including Nord-Ouest and Artibonite, resulting in reports of five persons being injured.
It added that one fatality has been recorded in Marigot, Sud-Est, due to a fallen tree.
The United Nations said officials from the World Food Program (WFP) are helping people in the storm’s path proactively prepare to mitigate damage.
The UN said that, working with the Haitian government, WFP sent 3.5 million early warning text messages to guide how to prepare and stay safe. It said WFP in Haiti is also preparing to deliver anticipatory e-money distributions totaling US$900,000 to meet urgent humanitarian needs for about 45,000 people.
“These payments are supported by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and will help families prepare to weather the storm and protect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable.
“In Cuba, our colleagues tell us that WFP and the government’s prepositioned food can cover approximately 275,000 people for 60 days,” the UN said.
It added that through the WFP Caribbean Regional Logistics Hub, there are currently more than 500 pallets of partner relief supplies, as well as logistics assets stored in Barbados for air and sea deployment to impacted countries.
“WFP is also finalizing a food supply agreement in Jamaica to provide 10,000 food kits, which are designed to feed a family of approximately three persons for 10 days, with capacity to provide more as needed.”
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