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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm 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 the worst-hit zone.”

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

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

“We got up to 16ft 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 I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is without running water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons 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.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

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

“This will be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.