J
JDs Couch
Well-known member
Things are looking grave for Jamaica tonight. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it is. Unfortunately Melissa is strengthening again. A new ring of storms have exploded around the eye over the past few hours and hurricane hunters confirm the pressure is falling again. I wouldn’t be surprised if Melissa pressure falls below 900mb before striking Jamaica tomorrow. It could challenge the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane (892mb) for the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in the Atlantic Basin. This is a horrible development for Jamaica because it means Melissa will likely be at its peak strength when it makes landfall. The core of destructive winds will cause complete structural failure to even the strongest of buildings. Winds in the mountains will exceed 200 mph. Trees will be completely deforested and debarked. Infrastructure exposed to the winds will be completely destroyed. This means long-duration power outages and communications failure. Heavy flooding rain and mudslides will wash away roads, isolating communities for long periods of time. On the coast, life-threatening storm surge will cause additional destruction. If you’re on the island of Jamaica, I would find the strongest concrete bunker on high ground you can find to ride this thing out. If you’re an American stranded on Jamaica, it’s not too late to go to the US Embassy. I fear the aftermath is going to be the worst part. Jamaica is going to need all the humanitarian help they can get after this is over with. Keep our friends in Jamaica in your prayers tonight. Their lives and communities will be changed forever tomorrow. The only thing we can do is help them after Melissa is gone.
