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The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told local media.

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