Mayor Leading Rebuilding Work at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
This mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.
Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.
“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”
Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.
“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.
“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.
Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.
The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.
“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.
Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.
“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.
The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.
“This will be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he told local media.
“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.
