A Lehigh Acres man said he was contacting family and friends in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, brought devastating winds and flooding to the island.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Hurricane Melissa's impact is being felt and seen from the Triangle to Jamaica as families are still waiting to hear from their loved ones on the island. Others are breathing a sigh of relief because they have.

Orcabessa Bay is a small town in the Saint Mary Parish, located in the northeast part of the island. It is home to 7,000 people. The town also houses the GoldenEye Villa, a retreat that previously was the private home and beach of Ian Fleming, a British author best known for creating the James Bond series.

Life-threatening conditions are expected in Jamaica with Hurricane Melissa on the way toward landfall. One Triad man says his family is bracing for the worst and praying for the best.

As Hurricane Melissa rolls through Jamaica, many here in the Tri-State are keeping an eye on Hurricane Melissa from afar.

At first light on Wednesday, the coastal communities of southwestern Jamaica bore the devastation of being in the direct path of Hurricane Melissa.

Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on Tuesday with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour, leaving much of the island without power.