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This mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and most buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally covered 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 securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he told local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.