Cuba Braces as Hurricane Melissa's Wrath Continues to Devastate Jamaica, Leaving Thousands Without Power
A powerful hurricane, dubbed "Melissa", tore through the Caribbean yesterday, slamming into Cuba with Category 5 winds of up to 185mph (298km/h), bringing widespread destruction and chaos. The storm had previously wreaked havoc on neighboring Jamaica, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
As Jamaica struggles to recover from the disaster, thousands of residents are without power, with some areas completely cut off from the grid. Neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, with homes, businesses, and infrastructure destroyed by the storm's ferocious winds and torrential rains. The full extent of the damage is only now being assessed.
In Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a disaster area, giving authorities greater powers to respond to the crisis. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for flooded regions, while officials are working to prevent price gouging in the affected areas.
Residents on both sides of the border describe the devastation as "unimaginable", with many losing loved ones or experiencing significant damage to their homes and businesses. Climate scientists point to human-caused global heating as a contributing factor to the rapid intensification of modern-day storms like Hurricane Melissa.
Meanwhile, Cuba is bracing for the storm's impact, with over 735,000 people evacuated from their homes in the wake of forecasters' warnings. The island's president, Miguel DΓaz-Canel, described the early morning as "very difficult" and urged citizens to remain safely sheltered as the storm makes landfall.
As Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path across the Caribbean, concerns are growing about the long-term impact on these vulnerable communities. With climate scientists pointing to human activities as a contributing factor to the rapid intensification of storms like this one, the region's leaders are calling for greater support and reparations from rich governments to help mitigate the effects of global warming.
With Melissa now expected to cross Cuba throughout the morning before moving into the Bahamas, residents in these regions must remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. The full extent of the damage caused by this powerful hurricane is still unclear, but one thing is certain: the Caribbean will not soon forget Hurricane Melissa's wrath.
				
			A powerful hurricane, dubbed "Melissa", tore through the Caribbean yesterday, slamming into Cuba with Category 5 winds of up to 185mph (298km/h), bringing widespread destruction and chaos. The storm had previously wreaked havoc on neighboring Jamaica, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
As Jamaica struggles to recover from the disaster, thousands of residents are without power, with some areas completely cut off from the grid. Neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, with homes, businesses, and infrastructure destroyed by the storm's ferocious winds and torrential rains. The full extent of the damage is only now being assessed.
In Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a disaster area, giving authorities greater powers to respond to the crisis. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for flooded regions, while officials are working to prevent price gouging in the affected areas.
Residents on both sides of the border describe the devastation as "unimaginable", with many losing loved ones or experiencing significant damage to their homes and businesses. Climate scientists point to human-caused global heating as a contributing factor to the rapid intensification of modern-day storms like Hurricane Melissa.
Meanwhile, Cuba is bracing for the storm's impact, with over 735,000 people evacuated from their homes in the wake of forecasters' warnings. The island's president, Miguel DΓaz-Canel, described the early morning as "very difficult" and urged citizens to remain safely sheltered as the storm makes landfall.
As Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path across the Caribbean, concerns are growing about the long-term impact on these vulnerable communities. With climate scientists pointing to human activities as a contributing factor to the rapid intensification of storms like this one, the region's leaders are calling for greater support and reparations from rich governments to help mitigate the effects of global warming.
With Melissa now expected to cross Cuba throughout the morning before moving into the Bahamas, residents in these regions must remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. The full extent of the damage caused by this powerful hurricane is still unclear, but one thing is certain: the Caribbean will not soon forget Hurricane Melissa's wrath.
 hitting our beautiful islands! Jamaica and Cuba are getting slammed with that Hurricane Melissa
 hitting our beautiful islands! Jamaica and Cuba are getting slammed with that Hurricane Melissa  . I mean, 185mph winds? That's insane!
. I mean, 185mph winds? That's insane!  So many people without power, homes destroyed... it's heartbreaking
 So many people without power, homes destroyed... it's heartbreaking  . And you know what's even more worrying? Climate scientists saying it's all because of global warming
. And you know what's even more worrying? Climate scientists saying it's all because of global warming  . Like, we knew this was coming but still... *sigh* Cuba's got over 735k people evacuated and Jamaica's Prime Minister has declared a disaster area
. Like, we knew this was coming but still... *sigh* Cuba's got over 735k people evacuated and Jamaica's Prime Minister has declared a disaster area  . The Bahamas are next on the list too, so gotta stay safe, everyone!
. The Bahamas are next on the list too, so gotta stay safe, everyone!  Can't wait for some of these new storm-resistant gadgets to hit the market
 Can't wait for some of these new storm-resistant gadgets to hit the market 

 but still they're dealing with this massive storm that's ripping through their lives. it makes me wonder, what does it mean to be vulnerable? is it just about being in a physical location or is it also about being emotionally and psychologically exposed? and then there's the whole thing about climate change... it's like, we're all in this together, but at the same time, our individual actions are contributing to these massive storms that can destroy communities. does that mean we're just victims of circumstance or do we have agency over how we respond to these crises?
 but still they're dealing with this massive storm that's ripping through their lives. it makes me wonder, what does it mean to be vulnerable? is it just about being in a physical location or is it also about being emotionally and psychologically exposed? and then there's the whole thing about climate change... it's like, we're all in this together, but at the same time, our individual actions are contributing to these massive storms that can destroy communities. does that mean we're just victims of circumstance or do we have agency over how we respond to these crises? 


 I'm so worried about Cuba, they're already dealing with a lot and now this? It's like the universe is just piling it on, you know?
 I'm so worried about Cuba, they're already dealing with a lot and now this? It's like the universe is just piling it on, you know? 
 I know climate change is real and stuff, but can't we do something about it instead of just talking about it all the time?
 I know climate change is real and stuff, but can't we do something about it instead of just talking about it all the time?  Cuba's evacuation efforts are impressive, though - 735k people evacuated, that's crazy!
 Cuba's evacuation efforts are impressive, though - 735k people evacuated, that's crazy!  remember when florida was flooded in 2005? and now look what's happening again
 remember when florida was flooded in 2005? and now look what's happening again 
 . It's just devastating. And it's not just these two countries that are suffering, either - the whole Caribbean region is feeling the impact of this storm.
. It's just devastating. And it's not just these two countries that are suffering, either - the whole Caribbean region is feeling the impact of this storm. Cuba and Jamaica can't just rely on good luck to survive a hurricane. They need help from the rest of us to deal with this crisis. I mean, come on, it's not like we haven't seen this coming for years now...
 Cuba and Jamaica can't just rely on good luck to survive a hurricane. They need help from the rest of us to deal with this crisis. I mean, come on, it's not like we haven't seen this coming for years now...  ... I mean, it's crazy how much devastation these storms are causing
... I mean, it's crazy how much devastation these storms are causing  . But at the same time, can we really blame humans for this? Like, climate scientists say it's human-caused global heating, but isn't that kinda like saying we're all responsible for our own problems?
. But at the same time, can we really blame humans for this? Like, climate scientists say it's human-caused global heating, but isn't that kinda like saying we're all responsible for our own problems? 
 what's really needed now is support from rich governments to help mitigate the effects of global warming
 what's really needed now is support from rich governments to help mitigate the effects of global warming 
 . Rich countries need to step up and help these communities recover from the devastation. We can't just sit back and watch our friends suffer in silence
. Rich countries need to step up and help these communities recover from the devastation. We can't just sit back and watch our friends suffer in silence  . Cuba's evacuation plan is a great example of what can be done when governments work together
. Cuba's evacuation plan is a great example of what can be done when governments work together  .
. . It's not easy being in the storm's path, but at least they have a plan. We should all take a page from that book and prioritize our own safety too
. It's not easy being in the storm's path, but at least they have a plan. We should all take a page from that book and prioritize our own safety too  . Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas are already feeling the pinch, but let's not forget about the bigger picture β the rich countries that have been pumping out all this CO2 & greenhouse gases
. Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas are already feeling the pinch, but let's not forget about the bigger picture β the rich countries that have been pumping out all this CO2 & greenhouse gases  . It's time for a collective effort, folks! We can't just sit back and watch as entire communities are ravaged by these natural disasters
. It's time for a collective effort, folks! We can't just sit back and watch as entire communities are ravaged by these natural disasters  .
.
 now please, governments and rich countries, let's get serious about supporting these communities financially
 now please, governments and rich countries, let's get serious about supporting these communities financially  . can't we just invest in some proper infrastructure like sea walls or something? instead, it's all about evacuations and rebuilding... when will we learn from our mistakes?
. can't we just invest in some proper infrastructure like sea walls or something? instead, it's all about evacuations and rebuilding... when will we learn from our mistakes?  Anyway, I was thinking, can't we just do something to prevent these massive storms from forming in the first place? Like, climate change is real and all, but it's not like we're just sitting around twiddling our thumbs. We need some actual action, you feel me?
 Anyway, I was thinking, can't we just do something to prevent these massive storms from forming in the first place? Like, climate change is real and all, but it's not like we're just sitting around twiddling our thumbs. We need some actual action, you feel me?  Cuba's situation is pretty bad too, I mean over 735k people evacuated... that's a lotta people
 Cuba's situation is pretty bad too, I mean over 735k people evacuated... that's a lotta people  just saw some crazy stats on the devastation from Hurricane Melissa
 just saw some crazy stats on the devastation from Hurricane Melissa  . And now it's headed straight for Cuba, with over 1.5m residents in the storm's projected path
. And now it's headed straight for Cuba, with over 1.5m residents in the storm's projected path  . Climate scientists are saying human-caused global heating is a major contributor to superstorms like this, and I'm like, totally feeling it
. Climate scientists are saying human-caused global heating is a major contributor to superstorms like this, and I'm like, totally feeling it  We're basically watching our entire region get cooked!
 We're basically watching our entire region get cooked!  Bahamas expected to hit next, gotta send all the love (and aid) to these affected communities
 Bahamas expected to hit next, gotta send all the love (and aid) to these affected communities