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The local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping 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 scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles 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 help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, 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 critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild 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 maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.