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The local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

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

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes 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 blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes 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 time,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.