"Seeing the videos and the photographs is one thing, but actually being there in person and seeing the damage is quite another," Jamaican Sen. Abka Fitz-Henley said. "It's heartbreaking."

As Hurricane Melissa neared the Jamaican coast, winds in the spiraling wall of clouds around its eye gusted to almost unimaginable speeds. How fast? Faster than most tornadoes. Faster than a race car at Daytona.

Hurricane Melissa became the fourth hurricane in 75 years to make landfall on the island of Jamaica and shattered several Atlantic hurricane records. It is now tied with the 1935 "Labor Day" hurricane for the strongest Atlantic hurricane to make landfall on record,

The destruction from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica left many tourists stranded, facing costly extended stays with few amenities.

Insured losses from Hurricane Melissa's strike on Jamaica are expected to range between $2.2 billion and $4.2 billion, according to estimates from data analytics firm Verisk .

The world's largest nonprofit public health organization, which focuses on addressing the HIV AIDS epidemic, will be deploying 41 pallets with critical supplies, like generators, water, toilet paper, tents, tarps, ready-to-eat food kits, feminine hygiene kits and water purification tablets.

In the days since Hurricane Melissa ripped through the Caribbean, we’re getting a clearer understanding of both the destruction and desperation the deadly storm has caused.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba overnight after battering Jamaica as one of the most powerful landfalling storms in Atlantic basin history.

Hurricane Melissa brought hurricane-force gusts to Bermuda overnight and will weaken as it heads north, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Maps show its forecast path.