Our George Lee spent the day making his way to hard hit Santa Cruz. And George, we're already seeing some of that damage behind you, Tom. We're in hard hit Santa Cruz.Buildings here devastated. This one right here used to be standing. You can see now it is nothing but debris and rubble.Roadways here very treacherous to get in and around different neighborhoods. And there are still parts of this island that are virtually inaccessible. Tonight, the first look at Melissa's catastrophic trail of destruction thr ...

Hurricane Impact & Affected Areas - Hurricane Melissa caused absolute destruction in neighborhoods in Jamaica, with homes and roads immersed in murky waters [1] - The south and western sides of the island, including St Anne, Faini, St James, Montego Bay, Hanover, and St Elizabeth, were hit hardest, impacting tourist frequented areas [3] - The eastern side of the island, including Kingston (home to approximately 1 million Jamaicans), St Mary, St Thomas, and parts of St Catherine, were not as badly damaged [3][4] Response & Relief Efforts - The Jamaican government has given the all clear for utility systems to resume operations and supermarkets to reopen for essential items [5] - Rescue operations, food and medication distribution, and utility assessments are underway in parallel [6] - The Minister of Transport will provide updates on the reopening of airports for essential items, with Kingston airport expected to open [7] - Relief efforts have started from around the world, with the Jamaican diaspora and diplomatic community providing support [11] Community Resilience & Determination - Despite the devastation, the community spirit in Jamaica is very high, with people demonstrating resilience and courage [4] - Jamaicans are determined to help with the recovery effort, with many already on the ground assisting [11][12] - The Jamaican diaspora is rising to help, and the country has very good relationships in the diplomatic community [11]

US THIS MORNING. I'M JOE FRYER. - AND I'M SAVANNAH SELLERS.THANKS FOR STARTING YOUR WEDNESDAY WITH US. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN IN CUBA, WHERE HURRICANE MELISSA MADE ITS SECOND LANDFALL AS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE STORM JUST AFTER 3 A. M.THIS MORNING, PACKING WINDS UP TO 120MPH. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER WARNS OF FLOODING RAINS AND DANGEROUS STORM SURGE FOR THE EASTERN PART OF THE ISLAND. CUBA'S PRESIDENT SAID.HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED, AND A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN PL ...

Hurricane Impact and Response - Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm with winds up to 120 mph, prompting evacuation of hundreds of thousands [1][4] - Jamaica was severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa, initially a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds reaching 185 mph, causing widespread damage and power outages affecting over 500,000 people [2] - Jamaica's infrastructure, including hospitals, roads, bridges, and waterways, sustained major damage [3] Relief and Recovery Efforts - Over 735,000 people were evacuated in Cuba, demonstrating the country's commitment to disaster preparedness despite economic challenges [6][9] - American Friends of Jamaica announced a $1 million matching fund to support relief and recovery efforts in Jamaica, focusing on partnering with local organizations [14][15] - Immediate needs in Jamaica include timber, zinc, tarpaulins, and food, as many people have lost their roofs and possessions due to torrential rains [17] - Cash donations are prioritized for immediate relief efforts, while supplies are needed later; an airlift is being staged to arrive in Jamaica as soon as the airport reopens [22][23] Community Resilience and Tourism Impact - Despite the devastation, Jamaicans are known for their resilience and strong community spirit, fostering confidence in the country's ability to recover [18][19] - The hurricane hit Jamaica on the shoulder of its high season for tourism, potentially leading to a very difficult path to recovery for the tourism capital [19]

Hurricane Impact & Infrastructure Damage - Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds, directly hit Jamaica, causing widespread devastation [2] - Significant damage to infrastructure, including hospitals and roads, was reported [4] - Power outages affected hundreds of thousands [2] - Roads were impassable due to debris [1] Tourism & Evacuation - Approximately 25,000 tourists were stranded in Jamaica [5] - Tourists were evacuated to hotel ballrooms for safety [6] - Airport closures left tourists stranded, disrupting travel plans [6] Rescue & Aid Efforts - Search and rescue operations were initially too dangerous to commence [4] - Assessment of airports in Kingston and Montego Bay is prioritized to facilitate relief flights [9] - Officials are cautioning people to avoid flooded areas [3]

We did say that the system is a category 5 hurricane at this time. And when it makes landfall, it is expected to still be a category 5 hurricane. That means it will cause catastrophic damage, lifethreatening damage.There is very little that can stop a category 5 hurricane. And regardless of the um where you are in the parish of West Miland or St. Elizabeth, if you are under the impact of those category 5 hurricane force winds, you will be having significant difficulty even with infrastructure that's in the ...

Weather Event - Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 storm [1] - The storm is expected to produce catastrophic floods in Jamaica [1] Potential Impact - Heavy infrastructure damage is expected in Jamaica [1]