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This mayor of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and widespread devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor described riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel 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 got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase 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.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most 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 moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour 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 while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told 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 said.