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The local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

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

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived 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 explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. An authority previously described the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

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

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, 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 deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.