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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got 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 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 the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs 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 emerging stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.