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The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

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

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

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

Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive 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 positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.