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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

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

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived 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 got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, 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 witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

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