Hurricane Melissa has caused widespread destruction across the Caribbean, leaving at least seven dead and thousands more displaced and in the dark.

The International Federation of the Red Cross previously said up to 1.5 million people in Jamaica were expected to be directly affected by the storm, the first-ever Category 5 hurricane to hit the island nation.

The National Hurricane Center said Melissa brought "damaging winds, catastrophic flash flooding and life-threatening storm surge" to Jamaica, causing widespread infrastructure damage, knocking out power and cutting off communication.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on social media more than 735,000 people have been evacuated in Cuba, where Melissa made landfall again on Oct. 28. The storm is expected to target the Bahamas next before passing near Bermuda.

Humanitarian organizations have already begun mobilizing to provide immediate relief and prepare for long-term recovery after the storm. Here's how you can help:

Airlink

Airlink is working with partners, including American Airlines and United Airlines, to rapidly send aid and transport responders to Jamaica, despite widespread airport closures. The organization accepts donations of cash, frequent flyer miles and cryptocurrency.

American Friends of Jamaica

The organization's Disaster Relief Fund provides critical support to communities across Jamaica affected by natural or humanitarian disasters. Its board of directors has pledged to match donations up to $1 million. You can donate to Hurricane Melissa relief here.

The American Red Cross

Red Cross officials said their chapters on the islands, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are fully operational and working together to respond across the potentially affected countries. You can donate to disaster relief here.

Americares

This health-focused nonprofit said it is preparing to deploy an emergency response team to Jamaica and has an emergency medical team on standby to provide primary care to survivors if needed.  Americares has also offered assistance to partner organizations in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The organization is accepting donations here.

CARE

In Jamaica, CARE, an international humanitarian organization fighting poverty and world hunger, said it "will prioritize cash assistance to help families meet essential needs." The organization also has teams in Haiti working to identify immediate needs and provide support. Donations to fund "first aid, hygiene supplies, emergency food rations, water and water treatment kits and other shelter supplies" are being accepted here.

CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)

CORE, which has previous experience responding to storms in the Caribbean, has deployed air cargo ships of hygiene kits, tarps and essential relief supplies to Jamaica and is preparing to send resources to Haiti. The organization is accepting donations here.

Direct Relief

Officials shared they have committed an initial $250,000 in financial support and offered up its entire medical inventory to health providers in the Caribbean in response to Hurricane Melissa. You can donate here.

Footprint Project

This nonprofit is preparing to deploy more than 150 portable solar and battery power stations to Jamaica as well as mobile microgrid equipment from Puerto Rico and Barbados. The organization is accepting donations of cash and equipment including turn-key renewable power, water and shelter technologies for rapid shipment. Contact give@footprintproject.org to coordinate equipment donations.

GlobalGiving

Officials are seeking to meet urgent needs for search-and-rescue assistance, medical care, food, clean water and temporary shelter. You can donate here.

Good360

Good360 is working "to assess needs on the ground and deploy pre-positioned supplies, generators, shelter materials, and other essentials," in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the organization said in a news release. The organization is accepting donations here.

International Medical Corps

In an email, the organization said it is responding in Jamaica, working closely with local authorities to coordinate relief efforts and deliver critical supplies and support. They have prepositioned medical, wound-care, hygiene and food supplies, and have an emergency response team ready to deploy as soon as conditions permit. You can donate to Hurricane Melissa relief here.

Project HOPE

Officials said they are mobilizing an emergency response team to deploy while monitoring needs across the region. You can donate to Hurricane Melissa relief here.

Salvation Army

Personnel in the Jamaica East Division were out ahead of Melissa, urging residents to take action to protect their families. You can donate to help with disaster relief here.

United Way

United Way said it is teaming up with partners to provide food, water and shelter for those impacted by Hurricane Melissa across the Caribbean. You can donate here to support immediate relief and long-term recovery.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen said in a statement that it was in Jamaica ahead of the landfall and was "working with local partners to begin serving meals as quickly as possible to families impacted by the storm." The nonprofit organization is accepting donations here.

World Food Programme

The United Nations' World Food Programme, described as the world’s largest humanitarian organization, is providing emergency food rations to feed hundreds of thousands people in Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

"Coordination is ongoing with the International Organization for Migration, UNICEF and others to move humanitarian supplies by air and sea,” said Brian Bogart, who leads the organization's Caribbean Multi-Country Office of stocks prepositioned in Barbados.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, Dinah Voyles Pulver, Jeanine Santucci

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Melissa has wreaked havoc in the Caribbean. Here's how you can help.

Reporting by N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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