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The mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

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

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres 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 second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads 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 will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

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