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This mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing 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 get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he informed local media.

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