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This local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from the town are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication 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 added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River 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 get the major thoroughfares 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 persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

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

“This will be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.