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The local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced 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 I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies 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 moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger 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.