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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, 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 believes 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 clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.