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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying 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.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.