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The mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is without water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads 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 provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told local media.

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