Mayor Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.
“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”
Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.
“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.
“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”
The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. One official previously described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.
Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.
The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.
“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.
Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.
National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.
“It is going to be a enormous task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.
