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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

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

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity 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 torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and most structures have had their roofing. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

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

“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.