Mayor Guiding Recovery Work at Hurricane Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
The local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.
“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “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 noted receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.
“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.
“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, 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 stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.
He is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.
“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.
The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.
The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.
“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed local media.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
