🔗 Share this article

The mayor of the town of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

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

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.