General Sentiment - The document expresses a sentiment of surprise or disbelief, possibly related to a house [1] - The document mentions a house being seconded, implying support or agreement [1]

Weather Impact Assessment - The storm is anticipated to bring twice the normal rainy season rainfall to Jamaica [1] - This extraordinary rainfall is expected to cause widespread flooding [1] - The steep slopes of Jamaica increase the risk of dangerous landslides due to the heavy rain [1]

Hurricane Impact - Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a category 5 hurricane [1] - Kingston experienced tropical force storm winds, but avoided the worst of the hurricane's impact [1] - Building and infrastructure damage reported in Kingston [1] Evacuation and Population - Many people evacuated following official warnings [2] - Kingston's population is just under 1 million [2] Rainfall and Flooding - Significant rainfall is a major concern, with the area already saturated [3] - Roadways are expected to flood [3] Post-Hurricane Assessment - Officials advise staying off roadways until an assessment is completed [3] - Infrastructure assessment is also necessary after the hurricane passes [3]

Hurricane Conditions and Impact - Tropical storm force winds, clocking in at 40-60 miles per hour, are present in Kingston, Jamaica [2] - Debris is starting to fly, and siding from older buildings is tearing off [3] - Roads in low-lying areas have started to flood [3] - Trash accumulation in gullies (ravines) is causing drainage problems [4] Safety and Preparedness - News crews prioritize safety with plans A, B, and C, including fortified buildings and refuge locations [9] - Crews stock up on essential supplies like water and non-perishable foods [11] - Officials advise residents without a plan to find a safe space, as the window for preparation is shortening [7] Infrastructure and Recovery - Power outages are a significant concern [11][12] - Officials learned from last year's hurricane about staging and tools for quick power restoration [13] - Linemen from the states have arrived to assist with power restoration after the storm passes [14]

Disaster Preparedness and Response - Over 1800 shelters are open across the country, with 700 persons sheltered in Kingston [2] - Nearly 200 homeless persons have been taken into shelters [2] - Mitigation programs and final steps to ensure public and infrastructure safety have been completed [3] - Secondary communication equipment is in place to maintain contact with officials [10] Potential Impact and Concerns - Expecting a catastrophic event with susceptibility to landslides and flooding [4][5] - Concerns about communities being cut off due to landslides and wind volatility [5] - Critical to ensure homes are intact and supplies are available [6] - Aiming to minimize flooding in critical areas to prevent people from being marooned, injured, or dead [7] Aid and Cooperation - The government of Jamaica has been in touch with the United States and the Jamaican diaspora [13] - A platform has been opened for donations to Jamaica through the government [13] - Expecting to receive, monitor, and distribute aid supplies with international partners [14]

Hurricane Melissa's Impact and Forecast - Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, is expected to be the strongest ever to hit Jamaica [1] - The storm's slow pace of 7 mph raises concerns about widespread flooding [1] - Jamaica is bracing for major power and communication outages [3] - Winds are expected to reach 180 mph, worsening power and communication issues [4] - Eastern Cuba is preparing for floods and overflowing rivers, with 600,000 people evacuated [5][6] Potential Damage and Humanitarian Crisis - Jamaica is preparing for a worst-case scenario, as no infrastructure can withstand the storm's force [4] - The slow-moving hurricane poses a significant threat of landslides and floods [8] - Rainfall of 2 to 4 feet is expected in some areas of Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba [12] - Wind gusts of up to 180 mph and sustained winds of 185 mph could destroy homes [13] - Storm surge could reach up to 15 feet, turning streets into rivers [14]

Watch live as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, makes landfall in Jamaica and is expected to bring "catastrophic and life-threatening winds, flooding and storm surge," forecasters say. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.msnbc.com/ » Subscribe to MSNBC: https://www.youtube.com/msnbc » Subscribe to MSNBC on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@msnbc » Subscribe to MSNBC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/msnbc Download our new MSNBC app for t ...

Overnight conditions here in Kingston rapidly deteriorating. Some rain rain, some wind, some debris already falling. You can see here that is starting to become more and more apparent across the island.Roads are also starting to flood. And unfortunately, Melissa has already claimed lives even before making landfall. And one thing to note here in Kingston, the airport is barely above sea level.So that could be a real challenge if you start to see some of that storm surge. And the roads and infrastructure her ...

[Music] What of Jamaica is bracing for catastrophic impacts. Hurricane Melissa strengthening to a powerful category 5 hurricane and expected to make landfall in Jamaica in the coming hours. The storm has already produced winds of 160 m per hour, the most dangerous on the hurricane scale, and the conditions are only supposed to intensify.The island expecting up to 40 ines of rain, so major flooding expected. Last night, one of Jamaica's government ministers delivered this stark warning. >> If you listen to w ...

Urgent preps underway in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa barrels towards the island. The storm expected to bring catastrophic rain and flooding. Jamaican authorities today clearing beaches.>> It's a very dangerous hurricane that is approaching us and we want to make sure that every Jamaican is safe. >> In floodprone communities, buses have already been staged for those that want to evacuate. The weather threat shutting down the nation's airports.Melissa leaving a path of destruction across the Caribbean, killi ...