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The local leader of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. That was a bit scary 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 rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

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