Central Illinois Residents Share Their Stories as Hurricane Melissa Approaches

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — As Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica, along with southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, it has been escalated to a Category 5 hurricane. This season often brings such formidable storms to tropical locales, leaving trails of destruction—an experience that resonates deeply with two individuals from Central Illinois.

Back in October 2005, Jalen Duncan and Erin Hardway were enjoying what was supposed to be a serene vacation just outside Cancun. Their plans for relaxation were abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Hurricane Wilma, also a Category 5 storm. The memories of that harrowing experience remain vivid for them even today. With Hurricane Melissa on the horizon, Duncan and Hardway are reminded of their ordeal, hoping fervently that those in the storm’s path can find safety.

Hurricane Melissa: A Category 5 Threat Looms Over Jamaica

Reflecting on their experience, Duncan recalled, “I remember our hotel room, just a little bit of being on that bottom floor. You could open the door and feel like you were outside, which was really cool. As a kid, Mexico felt like a whole other world to me.”

However, their sense of wonder quickly shifted to anxiety. “We started hearing some rumors about a hurricane happening, which was scary,” Hardway recounted.

For Hardway, one thing weighed heavy on her mind.

“Hurricane Katrina had just happened that year too. And so when I thought, ‘hurricane,’ I was terrified,” Hardway said.

As it turned out, this one was worse. Wilma at the time came in as the strongest hurricane ever recorded. The resort then moved everyone into a restaurant, which served as a makeshift shelter.

“I just remember, I called my family before we went into the shelter, and they were really scared,” Hardway said. “And I just remember thinking that whole time, they don’t know that we’re okay.”

Hardway said they were there for four days before the storm passed, and then they saw the devastation with their own eyes.

“All of the vegetation was just blown over and gone. Windows were broken. Now there is glass everywhere. I mean, it was just shocking how much damage that it did,” Hardway said.

Finally, they were able to get to a pay phone, call back to family in the U.S. and get on a plane back home.

“I was able to get ahold of my sister. In the relief in her voice, just knowing that we were okay. Now we talk about it, and I can’t believe we went through that,” Hardway said.

Duncan said he doesn’t remember a ton about what happened, which is a credit to his mom helping him through it.

“As a kid, it felt weird because, ‘Hey, things aren’t the same as when we went in, and now things are different,’” Duncan said.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to hit Jamaica Tuesday morning.