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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River 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 reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies 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 adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

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