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This mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying 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 the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.