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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

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

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

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment 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 scary moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

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

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.