‘We had no warning’: Britons sheltering from Hurricane Melissa criticise lack of journey alerts | Hurricane Melissa

British nationals who travelled to Jamaica have expressed concern that no journey warnings had been issued by the UK authorities, journey brokers or airways earlier than Hurricane Melissa hit the Caribbean island.

The slow-moving class 5 hurricane made landfall on Tuesday, killing three folks throughout storm preparations and bringing most sustained winds of 180mph. It has brought on widespread devastation, with authorities ordering obligatory evacuations.

On Tuesday the UK authorities suggested these on the island to register their presence for updates and stated a specialist workforce was being deployed within the area.

The overseas secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated: “Many people will be thinking about family and friends in Jamaica in the face of this very serious storm. We offer the UK’s full support and stand ready to mobilise resources to support British nationals and Jamaica, at its request.”

Among these caught within the hurricane are a pair from north London who’ve been in lockdown at a Sandals resort in Whitehouse since Sunday evening. They stated their journey agent and airline British Airways – each of whom have been approached for remark – didn’t advise in opposition to journey earlier than their Friday departure. Before their flight, a Foreign Office official advised them there was no restriction in place.

“We would have moved our holiday otherwise,” stated Carl Pheasant, who turned 61 at the moment.

“When we were brought to our room, we initially thought we had been given an upgrade, but we didn’t realise it was because of safety, and it seems very secure,” he stated. “It could be a lot worse. I feel sorry for the Jamaicans and a lot of people who are in wooden houses. They are in a much worse situation than we are.”

Hurricane Melissa was a tropical storm on Saturday earlier than it was upgraded to a class 4 hurricane by early Sunday, after which to a class 5 by the US National Hurricane Center on Monday. It is predicted to cross in the direction of Cuba and the Bahamas by Wednesday.

However, a lot uncertainty stays for the couple, who’re on account of fly again to London on 7 November. They stated they’re greater than three hours from Kingston airport, certainly one of two nationwide airports that has been closed till additional discover.

“I think a big problem will be the damage afterwards,” stated Pheasant. “Leaving here and getting off the island may be the challenge.”

Other Britons the Guardian has spoken to stated they weren’t warned by their journey brokers and have since “gone into survival mode”.

Shantal Da-Costa, 37, travelled from London to Jamaica together with her two kids for her brother’s wedding ceremony final Thursday. At least 40 individuals who travelled for the marriage at the moment are sheltering in surrounding resorts.

During check-in at Heathrow airport, the household had been advised there was a chance of a hurricane, however no additional replace was given upon their arrival, stated Da-Costa. At the resort, visitors queried reception workers however had been advised no updates had been out there.

“We knew there was always a possibility of a storm, but not to this degree,” she stated from a resort shelter in Montego Bay, which she described as calm – like a “lazy Sunday”.

Her 11-year-old son is “quite anxious and worried”, stated the nurse from London, who can also be involved for her nice aunt in Clarendon, southern Jamaica, whom they’ve been unable to contact.

Outside “feels different”, she stated. The wind is highly effective they usually have made a household WhatsApp group throughout the resorts, certainly one of which has skilled some flooding.

“Knowing our whole family is out here brings comfort but leaves a small ball in your throat,” stated Da-Costa. “I felt I had to go into survival mode and honestly, [I] feel drained and don’t think I will sleep until I know Melissa has passed.”

Similar anxieties had been felt by Sarah Anderson and her household, who travelled to Negril for a multi-birthday celebration. Before their departure from London on Thursday, that they had requested their journey agent in regards to the tropical storm however had been advised that they might not be placed on an airplane if there was any hazard. There was no point out of it on the airport both, she recalled.

“I’m really upset that we were allowed to fly out and weren’t offered to postpone or change dates,” stated Anderson, 49, who is because of return residence to south Croydon on 3 November.

By noon on Tuesday, she was sheltering of their resort room wardrobe as winds rattled the patio doorways.

“Of course it’s stressful,” she stated. “We’re trying to stay calm, I’m a bit more anxious if I’m honest, because of the situation we’re in, and I feel let down.”

“We’re pretty much in survival mode,” she added. “We’ve got to get through this.”

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office stated: “The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority, and that is why we are urging any British nationals in Jamaica to follow the guidance of the local authorities and register their presence with us to receive updates.”