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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway 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 won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to 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.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.