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This mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

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

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

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and most structures have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he told reporters.

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