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This mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on working to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

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

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get 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 severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

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

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.