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/]

 

[rusty shackleford]

The 11:00AM update said the NOAA hurricane hunter plane had to pull out before it made its full pass because how violet the turbulence was. Measured the wind speeds to have gone up since early morning to 165 and pressure still dropping. It's probably going to make landfall as a cat 5. It has been moving more to the west than older projections were showing so Kingston won't get hit as bad. The storm surge to the east of it can still overtake the Kingston airport though.

[muppy]

I like many have visited Jamaica and stayed in Negril. I'm very concerned for the island as a whole. at the very least it will take time to rebuild. terrible news

 

Lord have Mercy

 

 

[rusty shackleford]

The 9:00 AM update had the hurricane hunters measure an increase to sustained winds to 180 MPH and pressure drop to 896 about 2 hours before landfall. The second strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in the Atlantic and that one was in 1935.

[frostbitmic]

My one visit to Jamaica was in February 1989 5 months after Gilbert slammed the island as a high end cat 3 low end cat 4 storm which still is the strongest on record to hit the island. We were staying in Ocho Rios and the hotels there as well as Dunns River Falls were all fine though on the long drive from the Montego Bay airport we did see some places that still looked bombed out.

 

Prayers and good luck to the people and beautiful island of Jamaica. 🙏🙏

[ExiledInIllinois]

Hopefully the world puts their money where their prayers are...

 

How about we rebuild them better than ever!  Better than the rest... Everyone, especially the one's down on their luck need a benefactor!

 

👍 

 

 

[T&C]

7 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Hopefully the world puts their money where their prayers are...

 

How about we rebuild them better than ever!  Better than the rest... Everyone, especially the one's down on their luck need a benefactor!

 

👍

 

 

How about THEY rebuild themselves better... they should take a cue from Bermuda, that island is much smaller but their building codes are top notch... enough to handle a Cat. 5.

[ExiledInIllinois]

7 minutes ago, T&C said:

How about THEY rebuild themselves better... they should take a cue from Bermuda, that island is much smaller but their building codes are top notch... enough to handle a Cat. 5.

"The phrase "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" has evolved from its original meaning of describing an impossible task to signify succeeding through one's own efforts without help. This shift in context often overlooks the idea that everyone relies on external support to achieve success."

 

 

Given the history... Everyone needs a benefactor.

 

I would generally agree, but the economic game has been stacked  against them for centuries.

 

 

[frostbitmic]

Melissa has hit Jamaica with 185 mph winds gusting to over 220 mph. Not a lot you can build to withstand that. It may be the strongest storm to hit land ever.

[ExiledInIllinois]

26 minutes ago, frostbitmic said:

Melissa has hit Jamaica with 185 mph winds gusting to over 220 mph. Not a lot you can build to withstand that. It may be the strongest storm to hit land ever.

Exactly! Not much one can do except mitigate the loss of life.