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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

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

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane came 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 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

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

“We are now trying to clear 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 persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

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

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