Those with memories of Hurricane Gilbert which devastated Jamaica in 1988 are no doubt experiencing extreme dread at suggestions that incoming Hurricane Melissa could be even worse.

Note Saturday’s caution from principal director at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) Evan Thompson that, “We have not had this experience (direct on-land impact from the centre of a category four hurricane) before…”

Notwithstanding its snail-paced meander through the central Caribbean, Hurricane Melissa has strengthened rapidly since the start of the weekend achieving Category Three strength late Saturday.

Up to Sunday experts were predicting that it will make landfall in Jamaica some time today or tomorrow.

Projections were that the storm would cut a path across the island before exiting with Cuba in its sights.

For context, Hurricane Gilbert made landfall at Morant Point, Jamaica’s eastern tip, on September 12, 1988 as a Category Three storm, ripping through the length of our mountainous island before exiting the west, leaving a trail of death and massive destruction.

Such was the scale of disaster that then Prime Minister Mr Edward Seaga likened it to Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki following atomic bombs dropped by the United States at the tail-end of World War Two in 1945.

A stunned Mr Seaga was reporting to the nation and wider world, following helicopter-facilitated, birds-eye view immediately after Gilbert’s exit.

Intriguingly, since Hurricane Charlie in 1951, records suggest that only Gilbert and relatively weak Sandy in late October 2012 have made landfall in Jamaica as hurricanes.

Of course, other hurricanes have devastated Jamaica without actually making landfall, such as Ivan in 2004; Dean, 2007; and Beryl last year — all three passing just south.

That last fact means that even if the weather experts are proven wrong, and the centre or ‘eye’ of Melissa stays off shore, the damage and grief are still likely to be catastrophic.

All that and more is why Jamaicans should heed advice from Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie to take the situation very seriously.

“Do not gamble with Melissa, it’s not a safe bet,” said Mr McKenzie.

And given the life-threatening nature of the crisis at hand, Jamaicans in low-lying, flood-prone areas, and other vulnerable situations, should obey instructions to relocate to safer locations, including designated shelters and the homes of relatives/friends.

Mr Thompson was at great pains on Saturday to point to the danger posed by excessive rainfall and surges from the sea (storm surges).

In terms of rainfall, the Met Office has predicted up to 25 inches over coming days, which means flooding will happen.

According to Mr Thompson, “When we have two inches of rainfall that is whole heap of rainfall, so when we talk about 15 to 25 inches that is much more than you can even imagine…”

Regarding the danger to those in low-lying coastal areas, Mr Thompson urged Jamaicans to recall the community of Caribbean Terrace, just east of Kingston, which was largely demolished by Hurricane Ivan’s storm surges.

In short, regardless of discomfort and inconvenience, Jamaicans must do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, family, neighbours, and others during this time.

There really is no other way.