Flight canceled for North Myrtle Beach family hunkering down in Jamaica during hurricane

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - The North Myrtle Beach family taking shelter in Jamaica during a historic hurricane cannot get off the island just yet.

David Watkins confirmed that his family’s Wednesday flight has been canceled, and there is no word on when they will get to leave.

Watkins shared videos of his family taking shelter Tuesday inside their Montego Bay hotel room.

The footage shows box springs, a mattress, and other heavy furniture blocking windows to prevent broken glass from flying inside.

The family moved another mattress into their bathroom, where they took shelter during the storm.

The family said Jamaica is a yearly vacation spot for them.

Watkins said they have enjoyed most of the trip, celebrating their first time out of the country as a family, and the couple’s 10-year wedding anniversary.

Melissa made landfall at New Hope, Jamaica, at 1 p.m. Tuesday as a Category 5, with an estimated maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour, tying for the third strongest hurricane to ever be recorded.

Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba early Wednesday morning.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

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