In a decisive move to safeguard its citizens, the Jamaican government has mandated the evacuation of seven flood-prone communities as Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 4 storm, bears down on the island. The affected areas include Port Royal in Kingston; Portland Cottage and Rocky Point in Clarendon; Old Harbour Bay in St Catherine; and Taylor Land, New Haven, and Riverton City in St Andrew. This directive, issued in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), is effective immediately. Jamaica is currently under a hurricane warning, with Melissa anticipated to make landfall as a major hurricane late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. The storm is predicted to unleash life-threatening storm surges, powerful winds, and torrential rains. This evacuation order stems from the Disaster Risk Management (Declaration of Threatened Area) (Tropical Storm Melissa) Order enacted on October 24, 2025, which designated the entire island as a threatened area. The government has clarified that the evacuation mandate will remain in effect as long as the Declaration of Threatened Area Order is active.
#EyeOnMelissa: Mandatory evacuations for seven communities as Melissa nears Jamaica
