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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.