Principal Director at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service), Evan Thompson, says Melissa, which is now a category four system, is unprecedented for Jamaica. “A Category 4 hurricane is more than we have experienced before moving across the island,” he said while addressing a press briefing at Jamaica House on Saturday (Oct. 25). “Gilbert was a Category 3 hurricane...

As Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica, citizens are being urged to take the threat seriously and follow all official instructions. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said that based on the projections, the weather system is moving slowly but definitely towards the island. He said that citizens should adhere to...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness says Jamaicans should prepare for a prolonged period of intense rainfall and strong winds as the slow-moving Hurricane Melissa makes landfall. “The system is quite an unusual one, sitting in the Caribbean Sea for such a long time, making up its mind about where it will go. It is obvious that it...

The National Water Commission’s (NWC) emergency protocols are now fully in place, says Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda. He provided the update during a special press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday (Oct. 25). “We have moved to secure power supply additionally for our loading bays, for our trucking services. We...

Efforts to safeguard farm records, associated documents, and receipts should be high on the agenda of farmers as Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica. This is according to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), which is urging full-scale preparedness among agricultural stakeholders. Senior RADA Plant Health and Food Safety Officer, Francine Webb, told JIS News that safeguarding farm records is a critical...

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) has advised that Tropical Storm Melissa has strengthened into a Category One hurricane and is expected to rapidly intensify into a major system, according to the latest bulletin issued at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (October 25). At that time, the system was located near latitude 16.6 degrees North and longitude 75.2 degrees West—approximately...

The St. James Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been activated,  providing a multi-agency response to Tropical Storm Melissa. Operating from the fourth floor of the St. James Municipal Corporation building in Montego Bay, the centre is a centralised command where a broad coalition of representatives from critical public and private agencies and non-government partners, will monitor and direct preparedness and...