Over the weekend, Risan Ford's family walked miles to find cell reception to call her. They described communities without water, electricity or phone service.

The Floridians were in Jamaica when the island nation was hit by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.

Don't be fooled – there's still time for major activity this season. Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, the strongest-ever storm to hit Jamaica, had winds topping 185 mph and could have turned toward the Sunshine State.

Melissa is now traveling over Cuba, with strong, violent winds and extreme rainfall. Up to 16 inches of rain is possible for eastern Cuba.

The 185-mph winds that Melissa packed on landfall made it the most powerful recorded hurricane to ever hit Jamaica — challenging the mettle of the island's most storm-hardened denizens.

On "Florida Matters: Live & Local," the founder of the Tampa-based Grey Bull Rescue, Bryan Stern, explained from the Caribbean how he believes the death toll from the hurricane will be large and that survivors will be left with the remains of damaged homes.

Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica Tuesday as a powerful Category 5 storm — the worst the island has ever seen. Tampa Bay residents with ties to Jamaica are concerned.

Melissa is likely to make landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane early on Tuesday. Catastrophic damage is forecast.

Melissa becomes the fifth hurricane of this season, likely to become the fourth major hurricane. Jamaica and Cuba are on a direct path.

The Dominican Republic is dealing with severe flooding, while Jamaica will likely be hit by a major hurricane late this weekend.

Hurricane Kate, which struck the Florida Panhandle on November 21, 1985, remains the latest hurricane on record to make landfall in the continental United States.

There is a high chance of a tropical wave developing over the next 7 days as it moves through the Caribbean. It does not currently pose a threat to Florida.