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This mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying 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 terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.