KINGSTON, Jamaica — A wave of frantic buying has left shelves empty across the Corporate Area as Jamaicans brace for the impact of Tropical Storm Melissa, but some shoppers are concerned that their spending might end up being unnecessary.

A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch have remained in effect for Jamaica since Thursday morning as Melissa moves in slow motion across the Caribbean while gaining strength.

The serious catastrophic threat Melissa poses has driven Jamaicans to stock up for the storm, but the system’s disorganisation had some shoppers second-guessing their spending when Observer Online visited supermarkets and bakeries in Kingston and St Andrew on Thursday evening.

Andrew Sinclair, a customer at the National Bakery on Balmoral Avenue, was among the shoppers expressing concern over unnecessary spending, citing past experiences.

“Normally you get a bulletin about it and you do a lot of shopping and nothing happens,” Sinclair said. “I feel like [Melissa] will turn [away from Jamaica].”

Still, most persons were sensibly not willing to take any chances. The popular bakery was packed, with some customers saying they had been in line for over an hour.

A supervisor at the Balmoral outlet confirmed that sales had increased, with bread, buns, and biscuits going quickly.

At Brooklyn Supermarket, customer Jamela Anderson was unconcerned about the approaching storm.

“Mi nuh feel seh it ago come as hard as weh people a seh. Mi just feel normal,” she said, adding that she expected heavy rain but no major damage.

Diana Mendez said she stocked up on “bun, bread, biscuits and snack for my granddaughter,” though she still needed to buy kerosene oil and matches.

“I’m a little bit scared because she is moving very slow and that [really] bothers me,” she said, referring to the storm. Still, Mendez added, “Once we pray and trust God I feel that there will be a shift.”

Richie Bramwell, who was shopping with his son, said he focused on canned goods that were not part of his usual weekly purchases.

He added that he was already prepared with essentials like batteries, a power bank, and candles.

“Mi nuh really feel threatened, it look normal. I feel like we might get few showers but we still need to take precaution, Jamaica can’t really manage no water at all these couple days,” he said.

At MegaMart, one employee stocking shelves said he had restocked “over 20 times” since morning. Items such as Lasco food drink, bottled water, liquor, frozen foods, and rice were almost or completely sold out. Though lines were longer than usual, most customers remained calm and patient.

Over at Sampers Supermarket in Cross Roads, manager Jean Alveranga said the store was unusually busy for a Thursday, with many customers purchasing the usual storm essentials like batteries, tinned food, and snacks.

One customer compared Melissa’s threat to last year’s Hurricane Beryl.

“I feel like it going to come down heavy and when it comes down heavy you know how it goes,” she said.

Omar Mills, another shopper, expressed hope for the best possible outcome.

“I hope that life is spared and everybody come out in good health,” Mills said.