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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That 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 frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority 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 adds.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.