City Leader Guiding Rebuilding Work at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter

The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million residents without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he informed local media.

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