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

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, 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, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, 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 witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

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