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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

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

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It 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 climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads 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 will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation 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 enormous task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.