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This mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.