The Category 5 storm is the most powerful in the Atlantic Ocean this year. The authorities in Jamaica and Cuba have issued evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.

Jamaica is bracing for what could be the strongest storm to hit the island in decades: Hurricane Melissa. The cyclone is currently making its way towards Jamaica, having already torn through Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Dominique Blake has lived in Northwest Arkansas for nearly a decade now. But, the track and field Olympian and Fayetteville business owner has never stopped caring about her native land of Jamaica. "It's a really weird time," Blake said. "I have loved ones there, family members, close friends."

The prime minister ordered mandatory evacuations as officials braced for tens of thousands to be displaced. Three people were killed and 13 others injured during preparations for the storm, the health minister said.

A Little Rock woman who traveled to Jamaica for vacation has now found herself stranded as Hurricane Melissa approaches the island and the airport remains closed.

A powerful hurricane is barreling toward Jamaica with anticipation that it will be the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean island in modern history. Hurricane Melissa began rapidly intensifying over the weekend.