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The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

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

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

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

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.