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The local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa 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 experienced up to 16ft 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 upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

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

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.