Mayor Guiding Rebuilding Efforts at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
This mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.
“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.
“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.
“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the response center. It 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 experience for us.”
The mayor stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.
He is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.
“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.
The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town.
“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.
The prime minister has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.
“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed local media.
“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
