Mayor Leading Recovery Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
This local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.
Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.
“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.
“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.
“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That 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 I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.
He is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.
“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.
Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid 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 need at this moment,” he adds.
The prime minister has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.
“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed local media.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.
