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This mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist 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 fully grasp the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.