City Leader Leading Rebuilding Work at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area

The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.