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This local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he told local media.

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