Situation Report 1 Jamaica - Hurricane Melissa. 27 Oct. 2025

Tropical Storm Melissa formed on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, and quickly intensified. A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning were issued for Jamaica on October 23, later upgraded to a Hurricane Warning on October 24 at 8:00 p.m. local time. That same day, the Prime Minister declared Jamaica an area under threat under Section 26(2) of the Disaster Risk Management Act. Since October 23, public hospitals have been operating for emergency services only, with an average national staff coverage of 80%. All health facilities remain connected to electricity and water, with operational generators in place and only minor leaks reported. One fatality was confirmed on October 25, resulting from injuries sustained during preparedness activities. The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) has developed a preliminary list of health needs, including emergency care equipment, field hospitals, vaccine refrigerators, protective gear, consumables, generators, and environmental health supplies, and is submitting a formal request for support to PAHO. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) was activated at Level 3 on October 23 to coordinate preparedness efforts.