Portmore on the frontline - Storm surge from Hurricane Melissa threatens major residential hub

Jamaica’s senior meteorologist Evan Thompson says Portmore, the largest residential community in the English-speaking Caribbean, is among southern coastal areas likely to be impacted by storm surge as Hurricane Melissa crawls toward the island.

Thompson gave the update during the question-and-answer segment of a special news conference at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Emergency Centre in Kingston.

“There is a model that is indicating the level of storm surge that is expected. Portmore is within that area that storm surge would be expected because it would be east of the centre of the system when it makes landfall,” Thompson said.

He added that any area along the coast moving from Clarendon through coastal areas in St Catherine - including Hellshire and Portmore - into Kingston and St Andrew could experience storm surge, with varying levels of severity.

“Of course differing levels. I know the highest levels were more in areas of Clarendon, parts of Portland Cottage and some of those other areas that we’ve heard about having experienced flooding in the past in coastal Clarendon — Mitchell Town and so on,” he said.

Earlier in the briefing, Thompson said waves could be pushed onto the land and reach heights of up to 13 feet. The Category Four hurricane is expected to strengthen by the time is is projected to make landfall Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Portmore's population is approximately 200,000.

-Kimone Francis

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