🔗 Share this article

This mayor of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, 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 stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without running water and power, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.