Mayor Leading Recovery Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
The local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.
Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.
“The entire town of Black River 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 confirmed dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.
“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.
“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”
Solomon explained that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.
Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.
The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.
“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.
Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.
“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority 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 time,” he says.
The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.
“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.
“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
