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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

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

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment 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 rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

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

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.