Overview
- Jamaica has confirmed 19 deaths from Melissa, with officials warning the toll will likely increase as access improves.
- Haitian authorities report at least 31 dead and about 20 missing after days of flooding, including 23 fatalities in Petit-Goâve.
- Roughly 462,000 Jamaica Public Service customers remain without electricity, and communications are down in multiple parishes.
- Thirteen cargo relief flights landed in Kingston on Thursday with more expected Friday, and U.S. government helicopters are en route for medical evacuations.
- NOAA says Melissa tied a 1935 record for the most intense Atlantic landfall; AccuWeather estimates $48–52 billion in regional losses as the post‑tropical system, now at 85 mph, heads toward the North Atlantic.