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This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

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

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise 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 stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car 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 concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

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

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

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

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