Also breaking this hour, the impact of Hurricane Melissa still very much being felt with the US State Department sending emergency teams to the Caribbean to help with the hurricane response. But NBC News has also learned that disaster relief from the US was delayed because of the government shutdown as well as cuts to aid programs. Several private organizations in the US are also mobilizing relief efforts to help people in Jamaica as the island begins a long road to recovery.NBC News correspondent Jesse Ker ...

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]