NBC News correspondent George Solis live in Kingston, Jamaica, where he's been monitoring the storm for the past couple of days. George, what are you feeling there? We understand Kingston is about the distance from Black River that Philly is from New York. >> Yeah, Vicki. I mean, it is a historic day here for Jamaica with Hurricane Melissa. We here in Kingston, I I pause to say this, are somewhat fortunate that the landfall uh was not here only because we are still getting some of those tropical force storm ...

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 ...

Risk Assessment & Awareness - The community initially held a false sense of security regarding hurricanes, believing they don't occur in the area [1][2][3] - Chatham County experienced its first mandatory evacuation order in over three decades in October 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew, followed by Hurricane Irma less than a year later [2] - The community is highly susceptible to storm surge, with potential for ocean water to reach over 25 miles inland [2] - In a category 1 hurricane, some areas could have greater than six vertical feet of water, while a category 5 hurricane could submerge a large portion of the community with over nine feet of water [2] Factors Influencing Impact - Storm intensity, forward speed, and angle of approach significantly affect the extent of storm surge [2] Preparedness & Mitigation - Creating and discussing family evacuation plans is crucial [2] - Compiling emergency supplies for both evacuation and staying at home is necessary [2] - Mitigating potential impacts involves clearing debris, trimming trees, and cleaning gutters [2] - Reviewing insurance policies and considering flood insurance is important [2][3] - Identifying and assisting vulnerable community members is essential for inclusive preparedness [3]