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This local leader of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds 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 hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, 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 estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

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

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

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