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(NewsNation) — Three U.S. couples who traveled to Jamaica unneurotic this period got much than they bargained for erstwhile Hurricane Melissa rapidly materialized and slammed into the land Tuesday, leaving a deadly swath of destruction.
Virginia nonmigratory Jessica Pope says she and different members of her radical rode retired the tempest astatine their waterfront edifice successful White House connected Jamaica’s southwest side. Now, they’re each trying to fig retired however to get home.
“It’s been precise stressful. I don’t deliberation that we’ve processed it yet,” Pope, joined by the different members of her group, told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” connected Wednesday evening. “We’re trying to support our spirits up. We were capable to speech to our families this morning, truthful that brought a batch of america a batch of peace. Because we knew they were location proceeding Lord knows what.”
Pope’s six-member group, including her husband, travels to the Caribbean each October. The friends said they had nary inkling that a Category 5 hurricane would make to enactment their lives successful danger.
When they could not flight earlier Melissa made landfall, the radical hunkered down astatine their edifice arsenic the tempest lashed the region. One couple’s country became uninhabitable erstwhile a model was blown out.
Now, the group's absorption is connected getting backmost to the United States. Members person double-booked flights successful hopes of leaving arsenic soon arsenic Saturday, Pope said. But that is contingent connected the roads being escaped capable of debris to get to the airport. A ample histrion has efficaciously blocked their hotel’s gate, Pope said.
“Nobody present is injured, convey goodness, but we cognize extracurricular these gates is hellhole connected earth,” she said.
Melissa's apical winds deed 185 mph (295 kph), making it 1 of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes connected record. The tempest near astatine slightest dozens dormant and caused wide destruction.
