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This mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got 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 more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

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

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.