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This local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

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

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. 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 rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.

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

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

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.