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The local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying 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 terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now focused on working to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told 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 affirmed.