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The mayor of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing 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 firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable 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 priority is removing debris from blocked routes, 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. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, 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 restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed 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.