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The mayor of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment 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 climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an flyover of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

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

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