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This mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

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

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment 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 scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

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