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

This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and power, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

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

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.