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The local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came 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 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment 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 climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

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

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.