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This mayor of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is removing debris from 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 get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.