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The local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares 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 won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.