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The local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” 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 priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

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