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

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures 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 main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

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

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority 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 moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.