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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

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

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, 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.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he informed local media.

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