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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off 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 supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.