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

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads 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 adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.