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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% 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 rising more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.