City Leader Leading Recovery Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter

This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor described enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

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

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

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