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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. An authority previously described the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

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