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The local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa 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 water at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

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

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.