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The mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

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

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

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

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes 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 individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told 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.