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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

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

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

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

“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.