Derby City Council is urging residents with friends and family in Jamaica and the areas affected by Hurricane Melissa to follow government advice.
Hurricane Melissa has caused significant devastation across Jamaica and has hit Cuba. It is forecast to continue through the Bahamas with severe weather conditions, including flash flooding, landslides, and life-threating storm surges hitting Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy said:
Our thoughts are with all those who are affected by Hurricane Melissa, particularly with residents who have loved ones in the impacted areas.
We know that this is a deeply worrying time for residents with loved ones in the region, and I would strongly encourage residents with family and friends in the region to stay informed through the official guidance issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on the Government’s website.
A variety of measures are in place, and I encourage British citizens in Jamaica to register their presence to receive the latest updates. We will continue to update residents as we receive them.
The UK Government is closely monitoring the situation and has updated its travel advice for several countries and territories across the region. The FCDO has activated its crisis centre, with support from the Ministry of Defence, to assist British nationals affected by the hurricane.
British nationals in the affected areas are advised to follow the instructions of local authorities. Those requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the FCDO 24/7 on +44(0)20 7008 5000.
Specialist rapid deployment teams are also being positioned to provide consular assistance to British nationals in the region.
Foreign travel advice can be found on the Government website.