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This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“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 experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without water and power, and most structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons 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 explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, 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 relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

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

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.