City Leader Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Worst-Hit Area

The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded 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 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 explained that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents 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 homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally covered 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 aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.

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