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This mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

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

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. 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 scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is without running water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads 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 offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

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

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.