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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

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