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The mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

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

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.