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This local leader of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster.

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

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. 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 I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is without water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.