City Leader Leading Recovery Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
This local leader of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication 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 emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”
Solomon stated that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.
He is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.
“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus 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 billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid 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 dire straits at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.
“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
