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This local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

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

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

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

“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.