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This local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

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

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.