State bodies, partners ramp up activities as Melissa approaches
Published:Friday | October 24, 2025 | 10:14 AMEdmond Campbell/Senior Staff Reporter
The Government says it is ramping up its preparation efforts as Tropical Storm Melissa approaches Jamaica, with various state agencies and ministries working to ensure that essential services remain available to the public. Forecasters warn that the storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend, bringing heavy rain that could lead to significant flooding in some areas of the country.
Currently, Jamaica is under a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Melissa moves slowly across the Caribbean Sea, located south-southeast of the island. This means that tropical storm conditions could impact Jamaica within the next 36 hours while hurricane conditions may be possible within the next 48 hours.
At 8 p.m. on Thursday, the centre of Tropical Storm Melissa was positioned at latitude 16°N and longitude 75.5°W, more than 200 kilometres south-southeast of Morant Point. The Meteorological Service of Jamaica forecasts that showers and thunderstorms will intensify today.
In response to the storm, public hospitals have entered emergency mode, suspending outpatient services and elective surgeries. Speaking at a press conference at Jamaica House yesterday, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton urged families of patients scheduled for non-emergency surgeries to collect them as soon as possible to free up bed space for potential emergencies. Tufton also announced visitor restrictions for hospitals.
Meanwhile, individuals with chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes, are being encouraged to ensure that they have enough medication. Pregnant women in later stages of pregnancy are advised to stay with family or friends near a hospital or delivery centre in case of an emergency.
Hugh Grant, president and CEO of the Jamaica Public Service, said the light and power company has implemented game-changing plans to respond more effectively to a storm event.
The company established a new incident-command structure, according to Grant, to streamline communication by outlining clear goals and responsibilities for JPS personnel who liaison with key stakeholders.
He said the JPS has an arm that is dedicated to the municipal corporations, where the company receives first-hand information from various disaster-response agencies and is able to take action where necessary.
Grant said the JPS has also brought in additional boots on the ground from regional entities to assist with the storm response.
He said 60 line personnel have been brought in to augment the JPS’s workforce.
“We have also activated our incident-command structure. “We’ll be working 24/7, nonstop, to safely and timely restore power to our customers,” he said.
LIKELIHOOD OF OUTAGES
However, the JPS boss noted that the country has experienced several weeks of rainfall, which has left the ground saturated. He said saturated ground combined with increased rainfall of between six and 12 inches as well as sustained wind speed of upwards of 50 miles per hour increases the likelihood of power outages.
Grant was blunt: “The lights are going to go out.”
He added that the company was committed, resourced, and stood ready to respond.
The National Water Commission (NWC) has also activated its emergency protocols, securing critical infrastructure and ensuring that essential water and wastewater services will remain operational throughout the storm. Water restrictions have been lifted, but customers are advised to store enough water for at least three days in clean, covered containers as the NWC may need to shut down some systems, depending on the storm’s impact.
Energy and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz announced at yesterday’s press conference that the country’s major telecommunications providers, Digicel and FLOW, are prepared for potential disruptions. He also warned that Jamaica’s international airports may close within 24 hours if a hurricane warning is issued.