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This local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived 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 added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he told 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.