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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping 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 terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

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

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” 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 said.