A North Charleston-based nonprofit already has people on the ground in Jamaica, ready to help as the powerful Hurricane Melissa churns towards the Caribbean island nation.

Water Mission , dedicated to providing both temporary and long-term safe water solutions, sent a team of four with an emergency safe water treatment system to the area around Kingston, the capital.

The team arrived early Oct. 26 in order to be in place and ready to offer a way for people to get clean water immediately after the Category 5 storm hits, said Gregg Dinino, director of public relations. The treatment system, roughly the size of a suitcase, should be able to provide clean water for weeks, he said.

Dinino added the team will also be able to assess the damage and let the nonprofit know how much assistance is

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