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The local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise 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.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

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