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This local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded 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 bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, 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 stated that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on working to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

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

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging 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 reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.