Communities and officials across the southern Bahamas are bracing for Hurricane Melissa, with a mix of preparedness, stress, and apprehension as the storm looms. Dr. Roelof Bruintjes, an atmospheric scientist from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, emphasized the need for vigilance, urging residents to transition from ‘monitor’ to ‘action’ mode if the hurricane shifts northward earlier than anticipated. ‘The southern Bahamas must remain on high alert and begin preliminary preparations,’ he stated. ‘Once the storm’s northern trajectory is confirmed, immediate action will be necessary.’ Dr. Bruintjes explained that hurricanes function as ‘heat engines,’ weakening over land due to disrupted rotation and loss of heat sources, particularly when interacting with mountainous terrain. ‘Jamaica will bear significant impact, but the storm will lose its intensity as it moves inland,’ he added. High-pressure systems have temporarily slowed the hurricane’s progress, but it is expected to move northward as weather fronts shift. In Mayaguana, Chief Councillor Vincent Murphy confirmed that preparations, including the readiness of shelters, would be completed by Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, on Crooked Island, resident Kirkwood McKinney Sr criticized the lack of backup power capacity, describing it as ‘gross negligence’ by the Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) management. Despite the challenges, McKinney vowed to remain on the island, citing lingering trauma from Hurricane Joaquin. In Acklins, PLP Branch Chairman Henry Rolle announced plans for evacuations in vulnerable communities, highlighting the island’s lack of proper hurricane shelters and calling for government action to address the issue.