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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

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

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected 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 witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.