Mayor Leading Rebuilding Work at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter
The local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.
“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.
“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.
“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
The mayor stated that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is without water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.
Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.
He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.
“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.
Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.
“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.
National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.
“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he told reporters.
“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
