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This mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain 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 explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

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

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

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.