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This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community 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 confirmed dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued 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 flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from 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. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

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

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

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