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This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.