KINGSTON – Jamaica braced itself on Tuesday for the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 5 storm. This hurricane is the most powerful to strike the island in 174 years of recorded history.

Forecasters predicted that the storm would make landfall early Tuesday, cutting a path diagonally across the island. It was expected to enter near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exit around St. Ann parish in the north.

Just hours before Hurricane Melissa’s arrival, the Jamaican government announced that all necessary preparations were in place, yet warned of the impending catastrophic damage.

“There’s no infrastructure here that can endure a Category 5 hurricane,” stated Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “The real challenge will be in how swiftly we can recover.”

Even before the hurricane’s full impact, landslides, downed trees, and widespread power outages were reported. Jamaican officials have indicated that the process of cleanup and damage assessment is expected to be lengthy and challenging.

A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) is expected across southern Jamaica, with officials concerned about the impact on some hospitals along the coastline. Health Minister Christopher Tufton said some patients were relocated from the ground floor to the second floor, “and (we) hope that will suffice for any surge that will take place.”

The storm already was blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

Jamaica braces for catastrophic damage

Melissa was centered about 150 miles (240 kilometers) southwest of Kingston and about 330 miles (530 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 2 mph (4 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“We will get through it together,” said Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica’s meteorological service.

Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps advisor based near Kingston, said most families are sheltering in place despite the government ordering evacuations in flood-prone communities.

“Many have never experienced anything like this before, and the uncertainty is frightening,” he said. “There is profound fear of losing homes and livelihoods, of injury, and of displacement.”

Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s water and environment minister, said he had more than 50 generators available to deploy after the storm, but warned people to set aside clean water and use it sparingly.

“Every drop will count,” he said.

Melissa takes aim at Cuba

Melissa also was expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday as a powerful hurricane.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Las Tunas. Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain were forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.

Cuban officials said Monday that they were evacuating more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island’s second-largest city.

Melissa also has drenched the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with a tropical storm warning still in effect for Haiti.

The hurricane was forecast to turn northeast after Cuba and strike the southeast Bahamas by Wednesday evening.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas, and a tropical storm warning was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.