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The local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts 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 I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.