Mayor Leading Recovery Efforts at Storm Melissa's Ground Zero

This mayor of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water 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 moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is without running water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that people 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 estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.