The government has ordered the evacuation of 7 communities with immediate effect.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness issued the Disaster Risk Management (Hurricane Melissa) evacuation order, 2025.

The specified vulnerable communities were ordered evacuated on the advice of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and in keeping with powers under section 26 of the Disaster Risk Management Act.

The order requires all persons to evacuate : Port Royal, Kingston , Portland Cottage and Rocky Point in Clarendon, Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine , Taylor Land in Bull Bay, New Haven, and Riverton City, St. Andrew.

A statement from the office of the prime minister says the action follows the Disaster Risk Management -declaration of threatened area-Tropical Storm Melissa- order made on October 24, which declared the entire island a threatened area.

The evacuation order remains in force for as long as the declaration of threatened area order remains in force.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz stated that the Jamaica Urban Transit Company deployed buses to some communities on Saturday and Sunday and there was little or no response from residents.