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This mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm 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 the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

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

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.