While most individuals sought safe refuge from Hurricane Melissa, a few chose to face the storm head-on.
Melissa, known as the ‘storm of the century’, struck Jamaica on Tuesday (October 28), leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
The hurricane initially reached Category 5 status — the highest level on the scale — with sustained winds surpassing 157mph. As it moved toward Cuba, it downgraded to a Category 3 storm but still wreaked significant havoc.
According to The Guardian, as of today (October 30), the hurricane has claimed 29 lives, including four in Jamaica.
While the public was advised to secure a safe location during the storm, a team from NOAA Hurricane Hunters ventured directly into its core.
The team shared dramatic footage on Facebook from within the cockpit of their aircraft, maintaining composure as they approached the eye of one of the most formidable hurricanes in recent history. Watch the video here:
The video was accompanied by the caption: “Heading straight into the eye of Hurricane #Melissa on @NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA42 ‘Kermit’ to collect critical data that helps improve forecasts and research.”
The video has garnered thousands of views, prompting numerous comments expressing similar sentiments…
One commenter remarked: “God bless these pilots, because if that were me in that cockpit, there would have been boo boo everywhere.”
Another said: “Pilots bounced around and act like nothing happened. …. me as passenger, peeing my pants.”
A third person added: “Nads of steel! Holy cow, you couldn’t pay me in gold coins to do that, bravery personified!”
Someone else noted: “I sure hope they are getting their paychecks, but there’s no amount of money they could offer to me.”
Another commenter summed it up: “That’s a hard NO for me,” and echoed the sentiment, “Me too, Linda.”
Melissa has now reached Bermuda as a Category 1 storm. According to the Met Office, this means the hurricane has wind speeds of up to 95mph.
At this level, major structural damage isn’t expected, though Melissa might uproot trees and cause some coastal flooding.
The Independent reports there are concerns that Melissa may hit land a fourth time, potentially affecting Newfoundland, Canada, tomorrow and over the weekend.
For those who wish to provide assistance, the American Red Cross offers food, supplies, shelter, and emotional support to disaster victims. You can donate here.