Mayor Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
The local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.
Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.
“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”
Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.
“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. 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 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
The mayor explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is lacking running water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.
The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.
“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand 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 estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.
“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.
National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.
“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.
