City Leader Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter
The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”
Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.
“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.
“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”
The mayor stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and most structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.
Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.
He is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.
“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.
The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.
“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.
The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.
“It is going to be a enormous task to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.
