A powerful Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has begun its assault on Jamaica on Tuesday with the threat of  “catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and destructive winds,” according to the National

The Hurricane Center said that Hurricane Melissa was moving slower than expected over the Caribbean, putting Jamaica at greater risk of catastrophic flooding and storm surge. Slower storms can also dump large amounts of rain over a longer period, pushing more water from the coast further inland.

The cities of Miramar, Lauderhill and Homestead established drop-off locations to accept donations. Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a Miami-based nonprofit, is also accepting donations and asking volunteers to pack boxes of supplies at its Doral location.