“If it will help, I will go on my knees.”

That was the declaration from Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie on Sunday as he repeated his plea for Jamaicans who live in low-lying and flood-prone communities to evacuate ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa.

He also appealed to people living on the streets to cooperate with the authorities and move into the drop-in centres in order to spare themselves from the ravages of the hurricane.

Up to late Sunday evening Melissa was forecast to slam into Jamaica along the south coast at Category Five strength, bringing with it large volumes of rain, strong winds, and dangerous storm surges.

McKenzie, who has responsibility for coordinating the Government’s response, was speaking Sunday at special media briefing at the Haining Road headquarters of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

“Let me say to Jamaica that I don’t think we need an [evacuation] order to move [people] from the areas that we know are vulnerable communities,” McKenzie said, while again singling out Port Royal which sits at the eastern end of Kingston, one of Jamaica’s most low-lying parishes.

He noted that there were still people who did not want to leave despite encouraging news from Member of Parliament for Kingston Eastern and Port Royal Phillip Paulwell that a significant number of people from the old seafaring town had begun to leave since Saturday evening.

McKenzie said the Government was taking steps to provide transportation to evacuate people from all vulnerable communities.

“If you listen to what Evan [Thompson, principal director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica] said about the level of rainfall [that will be brought by Melissa] and the possibility of flooding, many of these communities will not survive this flooding,” he warned.

“Again, I urge persons living in low-lying areas that are vulnerable to flooding: It is not too late. If you’re having problems to move, call the ODPEM,” McKenzie said, adding, “We will assist you if you’re having problems moving.”

The local government minister repeated that first responders will not risk their lives during the hurricane to assist people who have refused to move.

“It is going to be difficult for us to say to our first responders go out and risk your life now for someone who refused to move, when it was conducive for them to leave.”

“I don’t believe many people in this country realise what we’re facing. The Government continues to play its part and nobody can deny that the Government has been proactive,” McKenzie said.

He again listed some of the critical communities at risk of flooding, including Rocky Point and Portland Cottage in Clarendon; Taylor Land in Bull Bay, St Andrew; and Riverton City in St Andrew.

“With a Category Four hurricane, with the possibility of rising to a Category Five, there’s nothing more we can do as a Government but to beg and beseech persons to heed the warnings,” said McKenzie. “And if it will help, I will go on my knees.”

Meanwhile, he shared that up to midday Sunday 218 people were being housed in 31 shelters with all 881 shelters being activated.

He again appealed to the operators of large cranes still hanging on construction sites to immediately take them down.

Having first appealed on Saturday to the responsible individuals to address the matter, McKenzie said Sunday, “Not much has been done since I spoke about it.” This time he had a warning: “I want to advise those persons that they will be held responsible for any damage or loss of life that those cranes and [unsecured] construction material might contribute to. It is not late to take them down.”

In the meantime, schools will remain closed on Monday, so too all Government offices. Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, who is also the minister of information, said the Government expects the private sector will do likewise and allow workers to remain home.