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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

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

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

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

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he told local media.

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