City Leader Leading Recovery Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
This mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.
Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”
Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.
“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.
“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”
The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.
Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.
He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.
“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.
Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.
“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.
“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.
“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.
