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The mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

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

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

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

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.