Even before Hurricane Melissa struck the shores of Jamaica on Tuesday, Sandra McCarty knew all too well the carnage that a natural disaster could leave behind on the Caribbean island.

McCarty, a real estate agent from Freeport, was living in Jamaica when Hurricane Gilbert made landfall in 1988, killing at least 45 people and causing almost $3 billion in damage.

In its aftermath, the island had a "challenging six to 12 months to recover," with widespread roads blockages and power outages, McCarty said.

But McCarty believes Melissa, one of the strongest storms on record, is "going to be even more devastating. And, I am very, very concerned and a little fearful and filled with a bit of trepidation as I wait to hear what happens."

'A catastrophic situation'

Melissa made landfall on Jamaic

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