Jamaica is now bracing for Category Five Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to worsen storm conditions on the island on Monday as it draws closer. Hours before the major hurricane intensified to a Category Five, at least eleven Old Harbour Bay homes in St Catherine were flooded on Sunday.
Reports indicate that the hurricane generated a storm surge, with water reaching knee-high levels in certain sections of the community. The rising tide forced dozens of residents to abandon their homes. According to parish disaster officials, floodwaters began creeping inland by mid-afternoon, pushing into yards, living rooms, and roadways.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Early Warning System was triggered just before 3:00 pm, signalling the seriousness of the threat. By 4:10 pm, at least 86 people had evacuated to the Old Harbour High School shelter, while others stayed behind, hoping the waters would recede.
Parish disaster coordinator Yasheka Jathan-Thompson described the conditions as rapidly deteriorating. Sections such as Dagger Bay were already under knee-high water, and even areas traditionally considered safer were beginning to flood. She explained that the disaster team had begun evacuation efforts from as early as Saturday evening, using buses provided by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, with support from the police and the military.
Although the situation was not yet critical at the time, authorities acted preemptively, recognising Old Harbour Bay’s long history of flooding during major storms. Some residents, however, were hesitant to leave, expressing confidence that they could “ride out the storm”. Disaster teams continued persuading them, emphasising that the increasing water levels were a clear warning of what was to come.
Jathan-Thompson said evacuation efforts would continue for as long as conditions allowed, but stressed that the safety of first responders must also be considered. “We can’t send out buses on flooded roads and risk another disaster,” she noted. Officials are now closely monitoring the weather and road conditions to determine the next steps.
Residents were urged to take the warnings seriously and prepare essential supplies, including medication and first-aid items. Hurricane Melissa has since strengthened to a Category Five hurricane and is still expected to make landfall in Jamaica today, bringing deadly floods and winds.