A man from Nova Scotia shared that residents in Jamaica are well-prepared for Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that hit the island on Tuesday. Phil Rock, a retired firefighter and horticulturalist from Halifax, has been in Jamaica since last week getting ready for the storm. He is staying in Negril for a month and assisting a friend in looking after their property and pets.
According to Rock, Jamaican people are resilient and resourceful, showing unity in preparation for the storm. As Hurricane Melissa approached slowly, individuals in Jamaica spent about five days getting ready for its impact. Rock mentioned that both his and his friend’s homes are sturdy and situated on the island’s west coast, likely avoiding the worst of the storm.
After the hurricane passes through Cuba and the Bahamas, Rock intends to offer his volunteer services for recovery and rebuilding efforts. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa is the most powerful storm in recent memory to strike a Caribbean nation.
Seasonal workers from Jamaica employed at farms in Nova Scotia are also closely monitoring the hurricane updates. Josh Oulton, co-owner of Taproot Farms in Port Williams, revealed that about 20 workers from Jamaica are part of their team. Oulton described a somber atmosphere among the workers as they worry about their families and property in Jamaica during the storm.
Despite restrictions on phone usage at work, Oulton allowed exceptions due to the severity of Hurricane Melissa. Some workers managed to contact their loved ones in Jamaica until 3 p.m. AT, while others faced communication challenges. Oulton expressed concerns about the workers’ families and their properties in Jamaica, emphasizing the need for support and fundraising efforts to aid those affected.
REWRITE_BLOCKED: The given text contains sensitive information that cannot be paraphrased.