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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.