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This mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. One official previously described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies 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 need at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

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

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.