Catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica

The catastrophic Category 5 hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica and the government has declared the country a disaster area under the Disaster Risk Management Act Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness said on WednesdayAt 1200 Noon the centre of hurricane Melissa made landfall on the southwestern coast of Jamaica near New Hope Westmoreland he noted in a post on XA hurricane warning remains in effect for Jamaica as catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has made landfall on the island pictwittercom7tJw2UxjBwmdash Andrew Holness AndrewHolnessJM October 28 2025In another post he said Acting on the advice of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the Hon Desmond McKenzie Minister of Local Government and Community Development Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared Jamaica a disaster area under the Disaster Risk Management Act This declaration takes effect today October 28 2025He underscored that these orders give the Government tools to continue managing the response to Hurricane MelissaJamaica Declared a Disaster Area Order to Prevent Price Gouging Renewed pictwittercom11I9QjKuGmmdash Andrew Holness AndrewHolnessJM October 28 2025UN agencies such as the World Food Programme have started working in order to support the impacted communitiesWFP said that Melissa is the biggest hurricane to hit the Caribbean since Hurricane Beryl in July last year and the strongest storm seen anywhere in the world this yearIn order to support the communities across the Caribbean who will be impacted by the Hurricane WFP is working around the clockIn Haiti WFP is providing anticipatory emoney distributions to meet urgent humanitarian needs and help people protect their livelihoods ahead of the storm The distributions will reach approximately 45000 people and total USD 900000In Jamaica WFP is on the ground coordinating with the government and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to support with emergency logistics and telecommunications supply chain and food and cash assistance as required the official website of WFP notedIt added in Cubas eastern region which is most at risk WFP and the government have prepositioned food supplies to support 275000 people for up to 60 daysIn the Dominican Republic more than 4000 vulnerable households in floodprone areas will receive cash to prepare for the storm and reduce the impact on household food security If needed emergency food assistance will be activated in the southwestern provinces to reach up to 6000 families with readytoeat meals for five days and dry rations for 15 days WFP saidHurricane Melissa is a ferocious Category 5 storm spinning about 150 miles southwest of Kingston Jamaica with sustained winds of 175 mph It is one of the most intense hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean reported ANIWith inputs from ANI