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The mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation caused by the disaster.

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

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

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.