🔗 Share this article

The mayor of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding 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 upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.