Hurricane Melissa

[rusty shackleford]

Jamaica is about to get nailed with the worst hurricane in their history. If you’ve ever vacationed there, you know what a special place it is. Drastically so because how awesome the people of the country are.

 

Keep them in your prayers over the next few days, they are going to need it. Shaping up to be the worst natural disaster they have ever experienced. 

[Simon]

I have plans to head to Negril in March.

Regardless of my schedule, I hope those folks come through this OK.

[rusty shackleford]

2 minutes ago, Simon said:

I have plans to head to Negril in March.

Regardless of my schedule, I hope those folks come through this OK.

I’ve been to Negril many times. 7 mile beach and bloody bay are great spots. The west end is supposed to be the least impacted and the resorts will be ok. Just worry about the people that don’t have great shelters. 

[UConn James]

2 hours ago, rusty shackleford said:

Jamaica is about to get nailed with the worst hurricane in their history. If you’ve ever vacationed there, you know what a special place it is. Drastically so because how awesome the people of the country are.

 

Keep them in your prayers over the next few days, they are going to need it. Shaping up to be the worst natural disaster they have ever experienced. 

Which... is saying something.

 

Storm is just parked on them and not moving anywhere. 🙏

[ExiledInIllinois]

My younger sister's name.  Texted her a few days ago... Told he go easy on places!

[sherpa]

One of the things I've noticed over many visits to various places there on business is how poorly the airport at Kingston is set up to withstand high waves. The Intl. airport is south of the land mass, and there is a lengthy causeway you must drive over to get there.

When I was travelling there, there was no effective breakwater to protect this long roadway, and I remember thinking that if they ever had a close hit from a hurricane there would be no way to protect the airport or use it for relief efforts.

We'll see.

[ExiledInIllinois]

3 hours ago, sherpa said:

One of the things I've noticed over many visits to various places there on business is how poorly the airport at Kingston is set up to withstand high waves. The Intl. airport is south of the land mass, and there is a lengthy causeway you must drive over to get there.

When I was travelling there, there was no effective breakwater to protect this long roadway, and I remember thinking that if they ever had a close hit from a hurricane there would be no way to protect the airport or use it for relief efforts.

We'll see.

How often does a storm like this happen?  Once every 100 year storm?

 

I am sure they really care to overbuild something in Jamaica... Especially with an industry that's just over a 100 years old on a major what if.  Yeah, just throw cash around in Jamaica on something that's never happened.😆 

 

I guess if it gets destroyed now, build it a little better next time.

 

Sorry for the cynicism.😉 

 

 

[sherpa]

2 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

How often does a storm like this happen?  Once every 100 year storm?

 

I am sure they really care to overbuild something in Jamaica... Especially with an industry that's just over a 100 years old on a major what if.  

 

 

 

Jamaica gets threatened by hurricanes often.

Ivan barely missed it in 2004.

I remember looking at it on radar and suggesting to the FO that Jamaica wouldn't be the same tomorrow.

Ivan suddenly turned due west, but they suffered significant damage.

 

 

[SoTier]

I can't imagine what it must be like to be on Jamaica and waiting for this beast to strike.  There's no place to go.  

 

 It reminds me of watching Katrina inevitably bear down on the Gulf Coast as a Cat 5 hurricane in 2005.  

[rusty shackleford]

7 hours ago, sherpa said:

One of the things I've noticed over many visits to various places there on business is how poorly the airport at Kingston is set up to withstand high waves. The Intl. airport is south of the land mass, and there is a lengthy causeway you must drive over to get there.

When I was travelling there, there was no effective breakwater to protect this long roadway, and I remember thinking that if they ever had a close hit from a hurricane there would be no way to protect the airport or use it for relief efforts.

We'll see.

I've never been to Kingston but I know the airport is out in open water and very exposed to storm surge. I guess on the positive side, the Montego Bay airport should be relatively protected on the north east side (at least from storm surge). The big issue is going to be the logistics of getting people and supplies between Montego Bay and high population places like Kingston. The already poor quality roads there might be completely destroyed if the torrential rain causes landslides. 

 

When I was there last time, we did an ATV excursion up in the mountains in a Rastafarian village. They said the last time they had a significant hurricane (and nowhere as bad as this will be) they were cut off from the rest of civilization for weeks. 

[\GoBillsInDallas/]