Mayor Leading Rebuilding Work at Storm Melissa's Ground Zero
The local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.
Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.
“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”
Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.
“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.
“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It 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 climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”
Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.
The mayor is now concentrating on working to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.
“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.
Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.
“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.
“This will be a enormous task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told local media.
“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.
