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This local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

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

“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers 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.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.