🔗 Share this article

This mayor of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

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

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have had their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads 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 moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed local media.

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