Tracking Hurricane Melissa: Family stranded in Jamaica as storm nears

The big story on Action News tonight is the nervous waiting underway as a monster hurricane takes direct aim at Jamaica. Set to make landfall as the strongest storm to ever strike that island. Hurricane Melissa exploded into an extremely powerful category 5 today with winds topping 175 miles an hour. As we speak tonight, that slowmoving system is about 150 miles off the coast of Kingston with landfall expected early tomorrow morning. Now, check out this stunning video of the historic eye of this hurricane taken from inside of it today back on the ground. In addition to life-threatening winds, forecasters expect what they call catastrophic flooding. Those who did not evacuate tonight being urged to seek immediate shelter. And here at home, a sizable Jamaican population now living in Philadelphia is holding its collective breath, gathering supplies now they know will be needed later. Action News reporter Elizabeth Warthington live in the satellite center tonight. Elizabeth, you spoke to a local family today that's stuck in Jamaica tonight. >> Yeah, Brian, we actually talked to people from two points of view. So, first, we talked to some people who live in West Phil Philadelphia now, but are from Jamaica and still have family there, and they are just anxiously tracking the storm from their phones. But we also talked to a Montgomery County family who has no choice but to watch that storm roll in from their window. >> I never been in a category 5 hurricane. When Kimmy Small and her 13 family members traveled from Horscham to Montego Bay for her niece's 30th birthday, hunkering down in their hotel room wasn't on their itinerary. >> We were officially on lockdown as of yesterday and were not allowed to come out of our rooms and today they served us breakfast at at our rooms. And today they made an announcement that we could come to the buffet between 11 and 2. >> Their flight home was originally scheduled for today. The airport shut down on Saturday. Now all they can do is ride out the storm. >> It kind of mimics the Titanic. You know, everybody was going to the ball and getting ready, not knowing what was about to hit. So I think it's mixed. Like there's birthdays here, so they're singing happy birthday. Some people are like laughing and gallibant. Some people are very worried. >> Meanwhile, here at home, Jamaican natives like Carla James would happily switch places with a stranded tourist just so they could be with their family. >> Yes, I should be there with them. She owns Topt Taste Jamaican Restaurant in West Philly. Many of her employees also concerned about loved ones are keeping a close eye on the storm. >> I very because I have children and grandchildren there. >> Hurricane Melissa is a category 5 storm. The worst hurricane to hit Jamaica in recent memory was Gilbert in 1988. That was a category 3. Romeo Hudson remembers it. >> Gilbert was crazy. like the mountain side was like with a lot of trees and in the morning when we when I wake up there was no trees. >> So of course now the fear is just how much worse will the damage be this time around? Again, forecasters are predicting that storm will pack winds up to 175 mph. Landfall is expected early Tuesday morning. Live in the satellite center tonight, Elizabeth Warthington, Channel 6 Action News. Brian, >> and of course, we're thinking about everybody with ties to Jamaica. will be watching this all night tonight.