Disabled veterans from Waco say they didn’t know about Hurricane Melissa until they arrived in Jamaica

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the island.

Bradley and Barbara Dilworth, disabled veterans who love to travel, arrived in Jamaica on Oct. 23 for vacation.

They didn’t know a hurricane was heading their way.

“Thursday night they’re like, ‘oh yes, it’s a storm coming,’” said Barbara Dilworth. “It was a little tropical storm, but now, it’s a full hurricane but we don’t know what’s going to be expected of it.”

They have been trying to leave since Friday morning but couldn’t get a flight.

“One minute the airport’s open, one minute the airport’s closed,” said Barbara Dilworth. “You could try to book a a flight. You could get as far as booking a flight then the airline says, ‘no flights available and re-book you out.’”

Meanwhile, their daughter back in Central Texas fears having to prepare for the worst.

She has even been in touch with the embassy in Jamaica.

“If anything happens, I wanted to know that my parents were in Jamaica and that U.S. officials knew that they were in Jamaica,” said Aaliyah Dilworth. “So, I emailed them their I.D. numbers, their passports, full names, birthdays, address. So, they could contact me if something were to happen and I would know where my parents were at.”

The Dilworths said they would have stayed home if they knew about Hurricane Melissa.

“Nothing. No travel advisory,” said Barbara Dilworth. “Had we have known that, we would have just saved the hotel credits for the resort and did airline credits because we take trips all the time.”

It’s something their daughter says the need to take a break from.

“Just be safe and after this, domestic flights only,” said Aaliyah Dilworth, Daughter of Bradly and Barbara Dilworth. “You won’t be going anywhere international for a minute. Land lock only, I need y’all to get home.”

“We promise, we’re going to sit still for a minute,” said Barbara Dilworth. “Definitely promise, we won’t be doing any trips for a bit.”

The Dilworth’s sheltered in the bathroom of their hotel room as the brunt of the storm passed.

They are okay but there was some damage to the glass door leading to the patio from their hotel room.

They plan to get home to their family as soon as possible.

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