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

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

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares 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 won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

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