Mayor Leading Recovery Work at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area

This mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.