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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

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

“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an flyover of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told local media.

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