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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without running water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs 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 emerging stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.