Simone Smart has vivid memories of enduring a hurricane, where roads transform into rivers and crocodiles become a part of daily life due to the flooding. Recalling the devastation caused by Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 3 storm in 1988, Smart shudders at the thought of the potential destruction a Category 5 hurricane like Melissa could bring to Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa is anticipated to unleash sustained winds exceeding 250 km/h, making it the most powerful hurricane in recent history to directly hit Jamaica when it strikes the island on Tuesday.
Expressing concern for her family in Jamaica, Kamoi McWhinney from Ottawa fears for her 83-year-old grandfather residing alone in Mandeville. She has been in constant communication with her family, ensuring they are prepared with essentials like water and charged devices. Planning to travel to Jamaica next week with supplies like vitamins, McWhinney aims to support her family during the storm.
RJ McEwan, a pastor at the REACH Centre in Ottawa, is also anxious about his stranded cousin in Jamaica due to flight cancellations amid Hurricane Melissa. Meanwhile, his relatives in Kingston have been making necessary preparations and staying hopeful during this challenging time.
Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, Marsha Coore Lobban, acknowledges the efforts of Jamaican residents in preparing for the impending storm, emphasizing the expected damage from flooding and landslides. Despite the looming threat, McWhinney highlights the resilient and positive spirit of Jamaicans, who are finding solace in humor as they await Hurricane Melissa’s arrival.
As the storm approaches, Jamaicans in Ottawa are on edge, awaiting updates on the situation back home and staying united in their concerns for loved ones.