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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

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

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That 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 scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and most buildings have had their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, 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 devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes 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 provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.