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The local leader of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community 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 to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“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 rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and most structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.