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The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It 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 frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.