Preston Media Issues Critical Update on Hurricane Melissa
- Preston Media
- Oct 27
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Residents and staff at UWI Mona urged to finalize preparations as Jamaica braces for Category 4 impact
Kingston, Jamaica – As Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensifies into a Category 4 system and threatens catastrophic flooding, residents and staff the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus are being urged to finalize preparations. UWI Mona has instructed Jamaican students residing on campus to evacuate immediately, with all operations officially transitioned online as of October 23, 2025. Caribbean governments have responded at varying levels to assist their nationals studying in Jamaica. While several countries have arranged evacuation flights and temporary accommodations, many students—particularly from Trinidad and Tobago—remain frustrated by limited governmental support and uncertainty.
Government Responses Across the Region
Caribbean governments have taken varying approaches to evacuating their nationals from Jamaica in response to Hurricane Melissa. The Bahamas organized a government-chartered flight that departed Norman Manley International Airport on October 24, maintaining constant communication with students as Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis emphasized safety and readiness. In Antigua and Barbuda’s case, students were offered temporary accommodation at the Pegasus Hotel starting October 25, with meals and transportation provided, and officials confirming that extensions or emergency evacuations would be offered if conditions worsened. Barbados has begun evacuation efforts, with approximately 40 students returning home, while an estimated 150 remain in Jamaica awaiting further arrangements. For St. Kitts and Nevis, evacuation is ongoing; however, several students were left stranded due to missed flights and subsequent airport closures. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago students have expressed heightened concern and disappointment, as nearly 300 students remain on campus and only a small number have departed. Flights available on October 24 required students to purchase their own tickets, and no government-coordinated evacuation has been confirmed to date.
Hurricane Melissa Update
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed that Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a Category 3 system and is expected to reach Category 4 strength. The storm’s slow movement poses an increased threat of catastrophic, life-threatening flooding across Jamaica and the broader Caribbean region.
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About Preston Media
Preston Media is the only student-led media house at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, operating from AZ Preston Hall. Founded in 2017, it provides a creative platform for students to explore media, journalism, production, and communication. Through storytelling, visual content, and campus reporting, Preston Media is committed to producing informative and engaging content while nurturing student talent in writing, speech, cinematography, marketing, and production.
By Onieka Coubrie
