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The local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying 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 moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

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

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.