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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

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