LIVE: Jamaican officials hold Hurricane Melissa briefing

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided YouTube video transcript, maintaining the original language and technical precision:

Key Concepts

• Hurricane Melissa: The primary subject of the discussion, a strengthening hurricane impacting Jamaica.
• Storm Surge: A significant threat, with potential heights of up to 13 feet, particularly in bays and inlets.
• JPS (Jamaica Public Service): The national electricity provider, reporting widespread power outages.
• Telecommunications: Updates on mobile and fiber-to-home services, including the use of generators and increased spectrum bandwidth.
• Airports: Status and readiness of Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) and Sangster International Airport (SIA) for relief flights.
• Petrojam: The national refinery, assuring fuel security for airports.
• JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company): Bus services, with disruptions due to CNG plant issues.
• Shelters: Status of shelters across various parishes, with occupancy numbers.
• Disaster Response: Coordination efforts by government agencies, including the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
• Support Jamaica Website: An official platform for donations and reporting emergencies.
• Search and Rescue: Preparedness and capabilities of the JDF and Fire Brigade.
• Hurricane Safety Tips: Advice on securing property, seeking shelter, and avoiding dangerous areas.
• The Eye of the Hurricane: Explanation of the calm period within the eye and the subsequent return of intense conditions.
• Tornadoes and Lightning: Associated hazards during hurricane passage.

Storm Surge and Coastal Impact

Evan Thompson provided a detailed forecast regarding storm surge, emphasizing its significant threat.

• Expected Impact Areas: Bays and inlets in the Black River area are expected to experience storm surge. Traditional areas like Portland Cottage and Rocky Point will also be affected due to their geography, though potentially less severely than parts of St. Elizabeth. Coastal areas of Manchester (Alligator Pond, Treasure Beach) and eastward into parts of St. Catherine are also at risk.
• Magnitude: Storm surge could reach heights of up to 13 feet, equivalent to "a couple of stories high."
• Timing: The center of the storm was expected to be somewhat offshore of Black River, but storm surge would still impact the area.

Preparation Window and Immediate Actions

Thompson addressed the closing window for preparations.

• Urgency: The window for preparations, especially on the western side of the island, was described as "very close" to closing, but not entirely shut.
• Last-Minute Measures: Individuals might still be able to reinforce structures if there are periods of calm.
• Current Conditions: Reports indicated heavy rainfall and strong winds in St. Elizabeth and Manchester, with intermittent lulls.
• Safety First: Extreme caution was advised for any immediate outdoor activities.
• Eyewall and Eye Impact: The eyewall was expected to make landfall by midday, followed by the eye. After 10-11 AM, it was advised not to take chances outside and to ensure safety indoors.
• Life Preservation: The primary focus was on saving lives, not just protecting structures.

Impact on Utilities and Infrastructure

Minister Darl Vaz provided updates on the energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors.

Electricity (JPS)

• Widespread Outages: The electricity grid was already impacted by hurricane-force winds and lightning, causing several power outages.
• Customer Impact: Approximately 240,000 (35%) of JPS customers were without power.
• Affected Parishes: St. Elizabeth, Manchester, St. James, and Hanover were heavily affected, with over 75% of customers in these parishes without electricity.
• Least Impacted Parishes: St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew, and St. Catherine had less than 10% of customers impacted.
• Generation Status: Adequate firm generation was online, but no renewables were available.
• Hospital Power: Most hospitals had JPS power, except those in Manchester and St. Elizabeth (Black River, Mandeville, Percy Jr. Hospital), which were operating on standby generators.
• Grid Shutdown: There were no plans to shut down the grid.
• Restoration Efforts: JPS crews were responding and restoring critical facilities and customers where safe.
• Customer Advice: JPS urged customers to stay safe, protect life and property, and monitor official information channels.

Telecommunications (Digicel, Flow, Liberty)

• Mobile Network: 26% of Digicel's mobile network was offline, primarily due to power loss. An additional 209 sites were running on generators and nine on batteries.
• Fiber to Home: 20% of Digicel's fiber-to-home customers were offline due to power outages.
• Recovery Focus: Crews would focus on the most impacted areas, keeping generators fueled even if commercial power was not yet restored.
• Spectrum Bandwidth: Working with the SMA to increase spectrum bandwidth channels, anticipating quicker recovery of mobile infrastructure than fixed.
• Additional Spectrum: Licenses for additional spectrum were signed for Flow and Liberty Caribbean.
• Liberty Caribbean (LIME Jamaica, Liberty Business): Committed to recovery efforts.
• Satellite Connectivity: Liberty Caribbean would introduce mobile connectivity via satellite, facilitating SMS and text messages to affected areas, enabling 4G LTE customers to communicate even with local network interruptions. This collaboration with Starlink was highlighted as a significant innovation.

Airports

• Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA):
  • Assumption: The system was expected to leave Jamaica by the end of Tuesday, October 28th.
  • Impact: NMIA's impact was not expected to be extensive.
  • Inspection and Cleanup: PACAL and JCA would use Wednesday, October 29th, for inspection, cleanup, and restoration of test equipment.
  • Emergency Relief Flights: Could be accommodated as early as Thursday, October 30th, 2025.
• Sangster International Airport (SIA), Montego Bay:
  • Uncertainty: The impact on SIA was uncertain, as it could face a lower category storm (possibly Category 3) with potential disabling impact.
• Ian Fleming International Airport:
  • Contingency Planning: Considered as part of contingency planning, allowing for certain types of aircraft access, which would be significant given its distance from Montego Bay.

Petrojam

• Fuel Security: Assured fuel security for all three international airports and air drones, with aviation fuel at 75-80% capacity to enable immediate aircraft movement.
• Supply: Petrojam had a two to three weeks' supply of aviation fuel at its Kingston and Montego Bay storage facilities.
• Reopening Standards: Strict safe storage and rigorous testing would precede reopening in accordance with international standards.

Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA)

• Microwave System: Generally operational, except for links between Winchester Headquarters and Katherine Peak, which were offline.
• Remote Sites: Operating on generator power, enabling accommodation of relief flights.

JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company)

• Shelter Transport: By 9:00 PM the previous night, 361 persons were taken to shelters.
• Road Operations: All road operations ceased except for transport assistance to essential services staff.
• CNG Plant Issue: Some buses would experience disruption as the CNG plant was decommissioned, affecting fueling. However, prior to the hurricane, additional CNG storage was secured to mitigate immediate issues.

Disaster Management and Shelter Status

Minister Desmond McKenzie provided an update on the disaster response framework.

• Shelter Status: All 800 designated shelters were open.
• Occupancy: 382 shelters were occupied, housing almost 6,000 persons.
  • Kingston and St. Andrew: 45 shelters, 581 persons.
  • Clarendon: 39 shelters, 865 persons.
  • Westmoreland: 33 shelters, over 500 persons.
  • St. Mary: 27 shelters, over 500 persons.
  • St. Catherine: 27 shelters, 394 persons.
  • Portmore: 8 shelters, 74 persons.
  • St. Thomas: 18 shelters, 609 persons.
  • Manchester: 23 shelters, 135 persons.
  • St. Ann: 18 shelters, 0 persons (to be checked).
  • Trelawny: 19 shelters, 261 persons.
  • St. James: 30 shelters, 209 persons.
  • Trelawny: 10 shelters, 313 persons.
  • Portland: 59 shelters, 541 persons.
  • St. Elizabeth: 26 shelters, 289 persons.
• St. Elizabeth Concern: Calls were being received from persons in St. Elizabeth requesting transportation out of affected areas. Instructions were given to provide transportation where possible, but systems were on hold due to the storm's proximity.
• Road Blockages: Roads in St. Thomas, Portland, and St. Catherine were blocked by fallen trees, poles, and landslides. Roving teams were clearing these.
• Caribbean Terrace: Experiencing flooding, a community that requires further attention due to past devastation.
• Land Slippage: Reported in Portland, St. Thomas, and St. Elizabeth.
• Call to Action: A final appeal was made for those who could move to do so, urging people not to be "brave" and to seek higher ground.

Support and Recovery Efforts

• Support Jamaica Website:
  • URL: supportjamaica.gov.jm (official government site).
  • Purpose: To mobilize support, channel relief, and coordinate recovery efforts.
  • Features: "Donate Now" page (credit/debit cards), pledges, ODPM bank account details, emergency reporting (uploading pictures of issues), and an interactive shelter locator.
  • Development: Created overnight by Amber Group in consultation with other private sector partners.
• Diaspora Support: The website is a resource for local and international support.
• Recovery Planning: Planning for the rebuilding phase had already begun.

Media Questions and Expert Advice

Tourist Safety

• Number of Tourists: 25,000 tourists were on the island.
• Coordination: The Ministry of Tourism was coordinating with hotels and providing support.

Search and Rescue

• Capabilities: The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are part of the National Disaster Committee and command center.
• Response: Search and rescue requests would be undertaken by the JDF and Jamaica Fire Brigade.
• Equipment: Boats and helicopters are prepositioned for response.

Hurricane Safety Tips (Evan Thompson)

• Preparation: Most preparation should be done in advance.
• Securing Property: Bring loose items from outside inside, especially from construction sites, as they can become projectiles. Secure animals.
• Shelter in Place: If inside, stay between interior walls, away from outer walls, especially if the structure is not sound.
• Multi-story Buildings: If the roof is compromised, move to a lower level.
• Shelter Importance: Emphasized getting into designated shelters, as search and rescue operations cannot be conducted during the height of the storm.
• Location: Move away from coastlines and low-lying areas prone to flooding. Seek safe, elevated areas.
• Interior Safety: Stay between double walls inside the property. Stay downstairs in multi-story facilities.

The Eye of the Hurricane (Evan Thompson)

• Calm Period: The eye is a calm area with little cloud cover and wind, creating a false sense of security.
• Opportunity for Repairs: Some may be tempted to do quick repairs, but this is ill-advised.
• Intense Conditions Precede and Follow: The eyewall, surrounding the eye, experiences the most intense wind speeds (approaching 300 km/h or 185 mph) and torrential rainfall.
• Directional Shift: Winds will shift to the opposite direction after the eye passes.

Tornadoes and Lightning (Evan Thompson)

• Lightning: Frequently occurs during thunderstorms, which are part of the intense shower activity.
• Impact of Lightning: Affects electricity supply and can cause fires. The Fire Brigade is alerted.
• Tornadoes: Small tornadoes can develop within hurricanes and pose a danger. They are short-lived but a real possibility, having occurred in Jamaica previously.
• Location of Tornadoes: Tend to occur in lower, flatter lands rather than hilly terrain, but preparedness is essential.

JUTC CNG Buses

• CNG Supply: Prior to the hurricane, additional CNG storage was secured to ensure sufficient supply for buses, even if deliveries are interrupted. The plant may need recommissioning, but there should be enough fuel for essential operations.

Hurricane Duration and Passage

• Multi-day Event: The overall hurricane event has been ongoing for over a week and will continue for a few more days after the eye passes.
• Eye Passage: The passage of the eye across the island will not be a full day.
• Clearing: A clearing is expected after approximately two days post-eye passage.

Conclusion and Final Appeals

The press conference concluded with a strong emphasis on safety and resilience.

• Urgent Appeal: Those in vulnerable areas, particularly St. Elizabeth, were urged to move to safety immediately, as the window was closing.
• Resilience: The Jamaican people were reminded of their resilience and ability to overcome challenges.
• Prayers: Prayers were offered for the country and those in the path of Hurricane Melissa.
• Official Information: Continuous monitoring of official channels for updates was stressed.