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The mayor of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and most buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region 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 while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.