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This local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, 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 damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

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