Exuma Residents Bracing For Hurricane Melissa

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EXUMA, BAHAMAS – With Hurricane Melissa now slamming Jamaica with catastrophic winds and torrential rain, residents in Exuma are bracing for the monster storm’s arrival in the southeastern Bahamas within the next 24 hours from October 28th, 2024 at 5pm.

While skies were calm and the sun still shining on October 28th, 2025, the sense of urgency was unmistakable as locals moved quickly to prepare.

Our News’ Joshua Williams, reporting live from Exuma, says the mood across the island was one of focused preparation, not panic, as residents boarded up windows, packed up outdoor furniture, and cleared store shelves for last-minute essentials.

“While it felt like a regular day in Exuma, residents were hard at work preparing for Hurricane Melissa,” Williams reported. “Everywhere we went, homes, schools, businesses, people were taking no chances.”

At Little Exuma Primary School, teacher Krystel Swann was busy securing her classroom ahead of the storm. She said her biggest concern is flooding, especially in low-lying areas that often take the hardest hit.

“Once the rain starts, it’s really the water we have to watch,” Swann said. “We’re making sure everything is safe and off the ground.”

Longtime fisherman Charles Styles told Our News that years on the water have taught him how to read the signs, and how to rely on modern technology to stay alert.

“I keep my eye on the radar now,” he said. “We can see these storms coming a long way off, but once they say it’s this strong, it’s time to tie up and stay home.”

Inside Exuma Markets, it was a familiar scene of pre-storm preparation as residents stocked up on groceries and fuel. Store manager Freddy Duncombe said his team anticipated the rush and was ready.

“We’ve been through this before,” Duncombe said. “People want water, canned food, and batteries, we made sure to have it all in place.”

Residents say Melissa’s path is eerily similar to that of Hurricane Lili in 1996, a Category 3 storm that devastated parts of The Bahamas and Cuba, ripping off roofs, destroying crops, and cutting off communications for days.

For 65-year-old Margarita Sears, who has lived in Exuma her entire life, the coming storm is another test of faith.

“We’ve been through many storms before,” Sears said. “God brought us through then, and He’ll bring us through again.”Officials continue to urge residents to stay alert, follow all advisories, and finalize hurricane preparations as Hurricane Melissa edges closer to Bahamian waters.