Jamaica’s peak tourism season is one month away, and officials in the hurricane-ravaged nation are rushing to rebuild from the catastrophic Category 5 storm that shredded the island’s western region.

What began as a 40th birthday trip to Jamaica became a fight for survival when Hurricane Melissa struck the island as a Category 5 storm.

A disaster response specialist from Kansas City-based Heart to Heart International is on the ground in Jamaica assessing the widespread damage from Hurricane Melissa and coordinating relief efforts.

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.

From apples to carrots to maple syrup and skiing, the food, activities, and landscape we cherish in Vermont are possible in part due to this workforce,” said Naomi Wolcott-MacCausland at the University of Vermont.

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,

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.

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.