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

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“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 the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

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

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

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now focused on working to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

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

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.