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The local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is lacking water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses 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 fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an flyover of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.