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This mayor of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping 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 hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid 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 adds.

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

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.