Pimento Jamaican Kitchen founder Tomme Beevas, who is from Kingston, Jamaica, is keeping his family and friends top of mind as Hurricane Melissa moves closer to the Caribbean island.

Hurricane Melissa has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm, with dangerous winds, storm surge and flash flooding expected in Jamaica, forecasters said.

The National Hurricane Center warns that Hurricane Melissa poses a threat of catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in Jamaica, Cuba and Hispaniola.

"It is more than kind of distressing because you don't know when and you don't know how," said Ewan Simpson, who lives in Jamaica.

"Catastrophic winds in the eyewall have the potential to cause total structural failure especially in higher elevation areas tonight and early Tuesday."

Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, is forecast to bring life-threatening winds, flooding and storm surge to Jamaica.

On Sunday night, I flew through Hurricane Melissa’s eye — one of the most striking moments of my career and a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into meteorology that most will never have. It was humbling, mesmerizing and,