City Leader Guiding Recovery Work at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter

The local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing 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 deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.