Volunteers with the Global Empowerment Mission in Doral pack aid boxes to deliver to the Caribbean ahead of Tropical Storm Melissa

As fears grow in the Caribbean on Tropical Storm Melissa s anticipated impact a South Florida organization is taking action before the storm strikes Assistants with the Global Empowerment Mission gathered in Doral on Friday to pack aid boxes filled with much-needed supplies to send to Caribbean islands such as Jamaica and Haiti We re constantly there we re unfailingly there to help the people and we don t leave until the need is over declared GEM Global Operations Vice President Jeff Popovich In partnership with Caribbean Strong contributors created kits packed with non-perishables and other supplies like shoes clothing soap toothbrushes electrolyte packets and other hygiene items The entire nation is in a state of preparedness We have to take these weather systems very seriously so we encourage people to stock up on nonperishable items explained Consular General of Jamaica Oliver Mira Mira says the donated boxes has played a helping hand in the face of past natural disasters GEM was indeed one of the first on the ground within hours We had relief items on the ground supporting people in need he declared The kits are headed to places potentially under Melissa s threat such as Jamaica Dominican Republic and Haiti The current forecast by the National Hurricane Center calls for heavy rainfall across the islands Just these rainfall amounts alone are likely to produce considerable life threatening flash flooding and landslides especially in these mountainous areas along the southern coast of Dominican Republic and Haiti and in portions of Jamaica as well explained NHC Director Michael Brennan As the storm is set to roll in on these Caribbean islands multiple of their locals are rolling out and headed to South Florida News spoke to travelers at Miami International Airport who escaped Melissa s threat Just hunkering down and preparing commented Cynthia Carin They are telling everyone to take it serious so I left family there and I sort of help prepared commented traveler Maxine McCormack Carin explained she was grateful for GEM s supply kits that are headed to her fellow Jamaicans Water because that s a necessity and we consistently lose it when the power goes out she disclosed Melissa is expected to become a major hurricane as early as Sunday GEM is opening their Doral doors to supporters who want to help create kits on Saturday from a m to p m