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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. 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 I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and power, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage personally, 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 undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.