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The local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

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

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.