How do you rebuild all this?' Black River residents assess damage after Hurricane Melissa

"It is a treacherous journey to Black River, a coastal town in Jamaica's southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, which this week bore the brunt of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. Uprooted trees and lamp-posts, rubble from landslides, huge potholes and miles of thick, slippery silt from severe flooding have turned the route into a dangerous obstacle course. But most daunting is the water that you encounter as you pass through communities that overnight have become rivers."

"As you get closer to Black River, which has been described as ground zero for the category 5 hurricane's impact, it becomes clear that almost every house and building has lost its roof. The town centre has been annihilated and now resembles a demolition site. Among the crumpled buildings and streets filled with zinc sheets from roofs and other dangerous debris are people traumatised, bewildered, grieving and desperate for help."

"Families with children who appear to be setting up residence in a bus shelter and others scouring the debris for food are indications of an unfolding humanitarian crisis. Some had come to Black River, the parish capital, from nearby devastated areas hoping to find aid, only to discover a scene of utter devastation. Speaking through tears, Beverly Stephens, who survived the storm with her son and elderly mother who is unable to walk, asked the Guardian to tell the world that Jamaica needs help."

Black River, in Jamaica's southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, suffered extreme damage from Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. Uprooted trees, fallen lamp-posts, landslide rubble, huge potholes and miles of thick, slippery silt have transformed the access route into a hazardous obstacle course. Floodwaters have turned communities into rivers, causing vehicles to stall and forcing police and army personnel to manage long slow-moving traffic. Buildings and homes were gutted or packed with debris; almost every house lost its roof and the town centre resembles a demolition site. Displaced families, traumatized residents, people scavenging for food and those seeking refuge signal an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Read at www.theguardian.com