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This local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

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

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, 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 persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.

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

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.