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This mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” 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 hoping 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.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without running water and power, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.