Mayor Leading Rebuilding Work at Storm Melissa's Ground Zero
This local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.
Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.
“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”
Several people from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.
“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.
“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
The mayor explained that the town, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.
Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.
The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.
“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.
Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.
“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.
The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.
“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.
