Mayor Leading Recovery Work at Storm Melissa's Ground Zero

This mayor of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

Reflecting 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. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads 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 offer goods to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.

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

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.