Mayor Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
This mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.
Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.
“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”
Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.
“Storm Melissa 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 explained.
“We experienced 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 increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
Solomon stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.
Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.
The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.
“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.
The mayor estimates that it will take billions 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 clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.
National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.
“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.
