ST THOMAS, Jamaica— As dangerous Hurricane Melissa barrels toward Jamaica, the chief executive of the St Thomas parish council is urging vulnerable residents to seek refuge in the 42 emergency shelters activated across the parish, noting that they are “not as comfortable as your homes” but are safe places amid the life-threatening storm.

Kevin McIndoe, CEO of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, told Observer Online that as of 4pm on Monday, less than 24 hours before Melissa was due to make landfall in the island, there were 600 persons at shelters across the parish and the figure is expected to grow as conditions worsen.

“We actually operationalised our emergency operations centre here in St Thomas [on Sunday] at 7pm and we continue to monitor operations in all these centres,” McIndoe said.

Still, some residents of vulnerable low-lying areas are refusing to take up refuge from the pounding rain and wind in the shelters, citing alleged uncomfortable conditions.

“We’re not leaving here, the conditions are terrible at the shelter, there’s nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep,” one resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told our news team.

He said he will be braving the hurricane at his home with his family despite the serious threat of storm surges.

“The Father will protect we,” he said.

A manager of one of the state-run shelters in the parish acknowledged that uncomfortable conditions at the facilities result in many vulnerable people shunning them.

“A lot of people would come out but the facilities are not really here for them,” said Shelly-Ann McCalla, shelter manager at the Morant Bay Primary School, which provides refuge for vulnerable residents from Bamboo River, Duhaney Pen, and Brown’s Gully among other communities.

McCalla noted that as of Monday afternoon, there were approximately 60 occupants at the location. During Hurricane Beryl last year, 86 people took up refuge there, she said.

“Some of them, when they come, there are no blankets, no cots, [and] the food, some of them have been here since Thursday with children… and some of them definitely have nothing to eat,” she said.

While indicating that there may be some amount of discomfort, McIndoe noted that the priority is to protect lives and urged persons seeking refuge at shelters to bring their own linen and at least two days’ supply of food.

“The shelter is for emergency purpose, we don’t expect it to be as comfortable as your homes, it’s really to provide a temporary safe place for residents during a disaster like this,” he told Observer Online.

He explained that blankets and bedding are provided, but resources are limited.

“We have blankets that we issue but we don’t have an infinite supply, so take your blankets and even two days’ supply of food,” the chief executive urged. “Once our shelters are operational, we have the Ministry of Labour assist in providing meals.

“Everything is logistics, and to mobilise providing all these resources,” he said.

McIndoe also asked that donations be communicated through the parish council.

“We are aware that there are volunteers or volunteer groups who are willing to provide hot meals for persons in our shelters.

“They should make contact with the St Thomas Municipal Corporation so that we can ensure that all this contribution is equitably distributed,” he said.

(Video: Llewellyn Wynter)