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This local leader of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

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

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

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

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.