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

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.