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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“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 added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.