Rocky Point and Portland Cottage residents heed warning to evacuate

Some 180 residents from Rocky Point and Portland Cottage in Clarendon have already been evacuated to storm shelters, says councillor for the Rocky Point Division, Winston Maragh.

Both communities are among six listed as highly vulnerable under the Disaster Risk Management Act.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Sunday ordered the immediate evacuation of several at-risk communities across Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa -- now a Category 5 system -- bears down on the island with life-threatening rain and winds.

When asked about residents' response to the evacuation order, Maragh told The Star that some residents were initially reluctant to leave their homes, but worsening conditions have forced many to act.

"The sea has started to come into Portland Cottage, so people are now taking this hurricane very seriously. We just moved three busloads to Vere Technical High, and we're still getting people out," Maragh said.

He noted that anxiety in the communities is running high, especially as many residents are still rebuilding from the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl last year.

"Everybody is worried. The people who were left in Portland Cottage have relocated to higher areas, while those in Rocky Point have moved to two-storey houses," he added.

Last week, Authnel Reid, president of the Portland Cottage Citizens' Association, had raised concerns about the state of the Jackson Bay Beach in Portland Cottage.

He explained that sand from the beach had been washed into swamps, worsening flooding risks.

Reid warned that if conditions continued to deteriorate, the sea could soon breach the main road, cutting off access to parts of the community.

- Olivia Brown

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