Battling Hurricane Melissa: A Family's Experience in Jamaica

A family from Massachusetts is currently in Jamaica, preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm set to hit the island on Tuesday. Leilani Perez, along with her mom and aunt, are on a birthday trip in Jamaica, where they are facing the closure of pools, restaurants, and airports. Despite the impending storm, their departure flight is still scheduled for Thursday. Perez shared her experience of living through a hurricane and the necessary preparations and safety measures involved.

The hurricane is expected to bring significant damage, catastrophic flooding, and landslides with up to 40 inches of rain. As of Monday morning, the weather in Jamaica was windy but not yet rainy. Perez mentioned that they are staying in their rooms, conserving water, and ensuring they have enough food supplies. Mandatory evacuations are taking place in flood-prone communities in Jamaica, and the storm has already caused casualties in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

In addition to strong winds and heavy rainfall, Hurricane Melissa could lead to life-threatening storm surges along the coast, reaching up to 13 feet. Perez expressed a mix of emotions and concerns about being sheltered together with her family as the storm passes by. Stay updated on the latest news by downloading the Boston 25 News app for breaking alerts and following Boston 25 News on social media platforms. Stay safe and prepared during this challenging time.