Hurricane Melissa is bearing down on Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, set to make what may become the island’s strongest landfall on record. Melissa has sustained winds well above 157 mph, is moving very slowly, and will trigger an extreme combination of storm surge, torrential rainfall, flash flooding and landslides.
Wind, hail, and water-related claims pushed severity up 9% in 2024, with catastrophe claims reaching a 7-year high of 42%. Adjusters must navigate rising costs, inflation pressures, and shifting risk patterns.
The Caribbean is under severe threat as Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane and is projected to make landfall in Jamaica early this week. With maximum sustained winds around 160 mph and a crawl speed of approximately 3 mph, Melissa is poised to do unprecedented damage for the island.
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