A dream honeymoon for a Texas couple took an unexpected turn when they discovered that Hurricane Melissa was barreling towards their location.
Kasydee and Hunter Bishop, hailing from Longview, tied the knot on October 17. Just three days later, they jetted off to an upscale resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to celebrate their marriage.
“The wedding was fantastic,” Hunter shared with KLTV, expressing his joy over their recent nuptials.
“We spent the initial days with family who had joined us for the occasion, before heading here. We had no clue this was in store,” he added, reflecting on the unforeseen situation.
Following a few delightful days in Jamaica, the couple was preparing to head back to the United States, only to find out that leaving the island was not an option.
“We spent a full day incessantly calling numerous airlines, trying to figure out a way to escape,” Kasydee recounted during an interview with The TODAY Show.
‘There’s just no possible flights available for us.’
Melissa is one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.
Kasydee and Hunter Bishop’s Jamaica honeymoon turned into a nightmare when Hurricane Melissa hit
The storm is one of the strongest ever in the Atlantic basin
The storm pummeled Jamaica on Tuesday, killing at least one person, submerging entire towns underwater and stranding about 25,000 tourists.
Melissa made landfall with 185mph winds, tied for the strongest ever recorded with 2019’s Dorian and the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
The Bishops took shelter from the terrifying conditions at the Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort and Spa.
Clips shared on TikTok by Kasydee showed the husband and wife sheltering in a room lined with what appeared to be pool lounge chairs being used as makeshift beds.
‘We feel pretty safe here at least!!’ she wrote in the clip.
‘Very blessed to be able to have this shelter while we go through this hurricane.’
Hunter said the shelter room’s doors were boarded and the resort was making sure the couple had ‘everything that we need.’
‘We’re very blessed to be in the situation that we’re in right now,’ he added.
The Bishops were surprised to learn that Hurricane Melissa was on the way and keeping them from departing Jamaica
Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, destroying towns and infrastructure
The storm’s 185mph winds were tied for the strongest ever recorded alongside Dorian in 2019 and the Labor Day hurricane in 1935
Frightened family members asked for prayers as the Bishops tried in vain to return stateside.
‘Our sweet newlyweds were supposed to come home today. Instead they have no end date, all flights cancelled,’ Hunter’s mom, Amy Bishop, wrote on Facebook.
‘Resort is being boarded up as Jamaica prepares for the worst hurricane in history.’
She added: ‘I’m a desperate Mom and feel scared and so hopeless. I want to help these sweet kids and give them hope.’
The couple was able to schedule a flight home on October 29, but there are no guarantees.
‘We are just praying and hoping that it does not affect the airport to let us not be able to get home,’ Kasydee said.
As of Wednesday morning, all departing flights from Montego Bay to the US had been canceled, per flight tracking website Flightradar24.
Jamaica’s transport minister Daryl Vaz said Tuesday that the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay could have suffered ‘potential disabling impact’ due to Melissa.
Montego Bay was ravaged by Hurricane Melissa
The hurricane is now a Category 2 storm and is expected to move through Cuba and the Bahamas today
Video captured how the storm caused a roof in the airport’s waiting lounge to collapse as water flowed underneath the seats.
The international airport in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, could accommodate emergency relief flights as early as Thursday.
The country’s third international airport in St. Mary was being used as part of contingency planning.
The hurricane is now a Category 2 storm, per a National Hurricane Center update issued at 8am ET Wednesday.
Melissa remains powerful, with winds up to 105mph, as it moves through Cuba and the Bahamas today.
