Melissa is leaving Jamaica and headed to Cuba. As if Cuba doesn't have enough problems right now, 900,000 Cubans living on the eastern side of the island have been ordered to evacuate. [More...]
Jamaica and Cuba are expected to face the most severe public health effects after the storm — including disrupted health care, contaminated water, disease outbreaks and mental health issues
From Cuba, Melissa, now a category 3 hurricane, head to the Bahamas, which has already begun disaster preparations. The government is flying people from the islands most likely to get hit to Nassau, which is prepared for the storm, although there may be power outages.
There will be tough times ahead for people in the Caribbean. When the levee broke in New Orleans during Katrina, lots of songs were recorded about it. Spike Lee even made a documentary that aired on Netflix.
Rather than post doom and gloom, I'm choosing hope and veteran Zydeco musician Zachary Richard, whose song "The Levee Broke" is a message of positivity that everyone will get through the tough times. ("The most important reason to keep going is you never know what's going to happen"). He is performing here with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra & Conservatory of Music (Louisiana).
The New York Times has some really poignant photos of Melissa's effect in Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
