Hurricane Melissa has finally left Jamaica behind.
After several days of approach and growth — and over a day hovering just south of the island nation — Melissa came ashore as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history. And as feared, Melissa caused widespread destruction on the island.
A lot of people, including residents with Emporia connections, had eyewitness views of Melissa as she moved onshore. Lucas and Jordan Hockenbury had recently gotten married in Manhattan and were on honeymoon at Ocho Rios, on Jamaica’s north shore. Lucas Hockenbury says Jamaica was the couple’s honeymoon destination for a long time.
Lucas Hockenbury managed Emporia’s Waters Hardware before being named as an operator at Evergy’s Jeffery Energy Center, while Jordan Hockenbury serves as a registered nurse at Newman Regional Health after graduating from Emporia High and Emporia State. The couple flew to Jamaica on Oct. 21. Jordan Hockenbury says much of the couple’s thought was on the honeymoon until late last week.
Covering an area the size of Ohio, Melissa came ashore with sustained wind speeds at up to 185 mph, gusts anywhere from 200-252 mph — the equivalent of EF-5 tornado winds — and a central barometric pressure of 892 millibars, among the lowest ever recorded for an Atlantic hurricane. The Hockenburys say the mood on the island changed as Melissa approached.
Jordan Hockenbury says hurricane planning is a lot different from tornado planning.
Melissa’s destructive path isn’t over with landfall Wednesday morning in Cuba. The hurricane is affecting the Bahamas on Wednesday and may hit Bermuda on Thursday.
The Hockenburys tentatively have a flight booked back home Friday, but it’s unclear whether that flight may be delayed. The couple is helping with initial recovery efforts immediately outside the resort, but Lucas Hockenbury says there are “tons of trees down” and it’s impossible to gauge any other damage nearby. The International Red Cross and Jamaica Red Cross are both accepting monetary donations. Residents donating through the Salvation Army of Emporia will have those donations processed through the Emergency Disaster Service Center in Kansas City if they are designated for Hurricane Melissa relief. Other nonprofits accepting donations include Mercy Chefs, World Central Kitchen and American Friends of Jamaica.
*Click here for KVOE’s YouTube channel, including a YouTube Short from Lucas Hockenbury.
