Now, after days of torrential rainfall and strong winds, seven reported fatalities, and with maximum sustained wind speeds reaching a devastating 185 mph, Melissa has made history as the first Category 5 hurricane in recorded history to make landfall in Jamaica.

They hunt in a nightmarish way ― grabbing prey as it passes. Once secured with a bite, pythons wrap their bodies around their prey and crush them.

Hurricane Maria in 2017 leads the list of hurricanes that had the highest wind speeds when making landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Melissa has spared South Florida a direct hit, but the storm's impact is deeply felt by residents with Caribbean roots. The Caribbean diaspora is now mobilizing to help affected communities.

Melissa directly hit Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, the most powerful hurricane ever to hit the nation.

The hurricane weakened to a Category 3 after carving a path of destruction across Jamaica. Limited communications there have left officials with only partial reports as they seek to assess the scale of the damage.