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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment 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 rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and power, and most buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

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