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This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying 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 terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

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

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.