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This mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

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

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

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.