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This mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, 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 pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal 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 relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.