OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (WPRI) — A Rhode Island couple honeymooning in northeastern Jamaica is now stranded at their resort, preparing to ride out Hurricane Melissa as it approaches the island.
After tying the knot in Mapleville, Jim Brennan and Kristina Ruggiero arrived for their stay in tropical Ocho Rios on Oct. 20, anticipating a week full of sunshine and relaxation.
But those plans quickly changed as Hurricane Melissa strengthened and moved toward Jamaica, bringing high winds and heavy rain that could cause potential widespread infrastructural damage and long-lasting power outages.
“We were notified that they were probably going to be closing the airports. So we reached out to see if we could get a flight out,” Brennan said. “All flights were booked for Saturday. And then, I found out later, subsequently, that all flights were booked for Sunday.”
Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica as island’s strongest storm in recorded history
Soon after, their original flight home on Monday was canceled as airports across Jamaica shut down. The country’s prime minister issued mandatory evacuations for residents in vulnerable coastal areas…