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The mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. One official previously described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told local media.

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