Hurricane Melissa live updates: No official death toll in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica after the storm made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.
After lashing Jamaica with dangerous winds and flooding rain, Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning. Melissa then moved through the Bahamas, and next, on Thursday night, the storm will pass Bermuda as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.
Key Headlines
Jamaican prime minister urges residents to obey evacuation orders
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he’s signed an evacuation order for some areas on the island’s southern coast.
“We can lessen damage and speed up recovery by taking preparatory and precautionary measures before the impact of the hurricane,” Holmes said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Will Gretsky
Jamaica braces for life-threatening hurricane-force winds
Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, has strengthened even further and is now packing winds up to 175 mph.
Catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force wind conditions are expected to begin in Jamaica Monday night and continue into early Tuesday.
People should be prepared for buildings to fall apart, especially in higher elevation areas where wind speeds could be up to 30% stronger.
1,000 nonessential personnel evacuated from Guantanamo ahead of storm
The Navy this weekend moved 1,000 nonessential personnel, family members, residents and pets from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay ahead of Hurricane Melissa.
“We're monitoring the storm's progress very closely and taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our personnel and the readiness of our bases," Navy Region Southeast commander Rear Adm. John Hewitt said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Luis Martinez
Melissa expected to ravage Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa is a worst-case scenario storm for Jamaica and is expected to ravage the island’s infrastructure.
Melissa is forecast to wash away roads, destroy homes and knock out electricity, leaving communities isolated, meteorologists said.
All major airports in Jamaica have closed, leaving residents and many American tourists stranded.
In Kingston, grocery store shelves have emptied as families prepare to shelter in place.