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A couple marking their 10th wedding anniversary finds themselves stranded in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa ravaged their resort in Montego Bay.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Shari Watts-Ankeny and her husband, residents of Virginia Beach, are currently unable to leave Jamaica after their anniversary getaway was disrupted by the destructive force of Hurricane Melissa.
Shari shared with 13News Now that since their arrival in Montego Bay, they’ve been confined to the storm shelter at their resort, which suffered extensive damage. “We’ve been in the resort’s storm shelter day and night. We’re safe, but the staff has informed us that the resort is essentially destroyed,” she explained.
The aftermath of the hurricane has left the resort in disarray. Hot tubs have been ripped from balconies, glass doors shattered, and debris is scattered across the premises, making it unsafe for guests to return to their rooms or explore the grounds. “We can’t access our rooms or move around due to the glass and debris everywhere,” Watts-Ankeny reported.
Despite these challenging conditions, the resort staff has been diligent in providing hot meals and a steady supply of non-alcoholic drinks. After a temporary outage during the storm, Wi-Fi service has been restored, enabling Shari to communicate with family and share updates with the media.
Watts-Ankeny added that resort staff will be helping move belongings and reassign rooms once it is safe. She remains grateful that everyone is accounted for and in good spirits, joking about the crowded shelter: “Right now I am in a confined space with 100 of my new sleepover friends. :)”
The resort, Excellence Oyster Bay, released a statement confirming that all guests and staff are safe. “We are deeply grateful to share that all our guests and staff are safe and unharmed after Hurricane Melissa yesterday,” the statement read. The resort said its team is carefully assessing the property for possible impacts and thanked everyone for their patience and support.
Travelers are still advised to exercise caution in Jamaica as recovery efforts continue in areas impacted by Hurricane Melissa.