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This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

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

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