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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

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

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. That 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.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

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