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This local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

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

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. 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 frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority 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 moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.