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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic 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 noted hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and most buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons 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 says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.