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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

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

Solomon explained that the town, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking running water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most 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 time,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.