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This mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

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

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

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

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

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

He is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads 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 time,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.