According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 2 storm, is moving across eastern Cuba, bringing damaging winds, flash flooding and storm surge to the island after pummeling Jamaica. Melissa was located about 45 miles northwest of Guantanamo, Cuba.

Richard Vernon, the mayor of Montego Bay, spoke about the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica and the destruction the storm left behind. Vernon said the priority is to ensure that there are no casualties or loss of life in the Montego Bay area.

CORE, which has previous experience responding to storms in the Caribbean, has deployed air cargo ships of hygiene kits, tarps and essential relief supplies to Jamaica and is preparing to send resources to Haiti. The organization is accepting donations here.

Maryland Del. Jheanelle Wilkins and members of the state’s Jamaican community are organizing relief efforts after Hurricane Melissa, a historic Category 5 storm, devastated the island with

The U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters” flew through the storm on Oct. 27, gathering critical weather data for the National Hurricane Center.