Guests at a Jamaican hotel hunker down ahead of Hurricane Melissa
(CBS, KYMA) - Hurricane warnings were in effect for Jamaica as the powerful Hurricane Melissa moved slowly toward the island Monday, promising destructive winds and catastrophic flooding, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.
Footage from Toby Smith shows conditions at the Hotel Riu Ocho Rios, located on Jamaica's northern coast, on Sunday and Monday.
Additional footage shows hotel guests lined up for what Smith said were "food bags" Sunday night.
Smith lauded the hotel staff's preparations, writing on social media, "I need to emphasise again the character and calm of the staff here at the RIU resort. They are staying vigilant for us and are prepared."
He also wrote on social media Monday, "Resort lockdown now delayed until tonight and the bars and restaurants are open for lunch. End of the world party starts now...Once again the staff are on it, keeping tabs on movements and finalising prep outside."
As of 8:00 a.m. local time, the hurricane was a Category 5 storm located approximately 135 miles (180 km) southwest of Kingston and was carrying maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h), according to the NHC; it was moving at 3 mph.
