The rapid intensification of the hurricane left the community scrambling to fully understand the magnitude of the approaching storm. Many found themselves unsure of what to expect, with varying levels of preparedness and anxiety among the residents.

“It’s challenging; you don’t really know. Some people are anxious, some are prepared, others aren’t really,” expressed a local resident, highlighting the uncertainty faced by those in the storm’s path.

The hurricane, upon making landfall, unleashed wind speeds that surpassed some of the most devastating storms in recent memory, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which famously devastated New Orleans in the United States.

In response to the unfolding crisis, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared the entire island a “disaster area,” signaling the severity of the situation and the urgent need for assistance and recovery efforts. As the nation braces for the aftermath, the focus remains on safety and resilience in the face of nature’s fury.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared the island a “disaster area”. Source: AAP / Matias Delacroix/AP

The US National Hurricane Center has warned Jamaica would be hit by “catastrophic flash flooding”, landslides and “widespread infrastructure damage”.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a “disaster area” and authorities warned residents to remain sheltered over continued flooding and landslide risks, as dangerous weather persisted even as the hurricane’s worst moved on.

The still-powerful Melissa is set to hit Cuba as early as Wednesday night. Source: AAP / Matias Delacroix/AP

Ziff said that while his home has been relatively safe from the storm’s effects, downtown Kingston has flooded, and he’s seeing videos of cars floating down streets.

“Saint Elizabeth is the breadbasket of the country, and that has taken a beating. The entire Jamaica has felt the brunt of Melissa.”

The scale of Melissa’s damage in Jamaica is not yet clear, as a comprehensive assessment could take days and much of the island was still without power, with communications networks badly disrupted.

Authorities in Jamaica have said the scale of Melissa’s damage is not yet clear, as a comprehensive assessment could take days. Source: AAP / Matias Delacroix/AP

Ziff said he’s received limited official communication about the storm due to a technical issue with his mobile phone, and the only updates he’s getting are from neighbours and the community around him.

The United Nations’ World Food Programme said it is coordinating a sea-lift operation from Barbados to Jamaica carrying around 2,000 relief kits as soon as weather conditions allow.

Assistance is also planned for other impacted countries, including Cuba and Haiti, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists.

Stronger and faster storms

As the atmosphere becomes warmer, it can hold more moisture, and as storms move across warm oceans, they can rapidly intensify by drawing in more water vapour and heat.

“I think rain and flooding is a definite hazard going into the future,” he said.