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This mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the response center. 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 frankly, when we saw the water rising, 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 buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million residents without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most 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 adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings 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 envision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

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