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This mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

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

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping 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.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

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