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This local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

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

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. 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 terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he told reporters.

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