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The mayor of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor described enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand 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.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated 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 supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage personally, with an flyover of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.