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The mayor of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

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

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres 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 second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing 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 relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

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