🔗 Share this article

This local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment 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 moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as under water, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.