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This mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

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

“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That 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 climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he says, 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 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 dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.