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This local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

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

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

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