City Leader Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
The local leader of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.
Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”
Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.
“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.
“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”
The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.
Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.
He is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.
“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.
Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.
The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.
“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
