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The local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

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

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting 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 fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

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

The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, 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. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

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