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The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded 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 praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing 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 deliver aid 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 dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

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