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The local leader of the town 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 disaster.

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

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

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

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, 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 fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

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

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

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