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The local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel 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 got 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 more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads 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 provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.