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The mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying 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 scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, 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 says.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage personally, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.