Mayor Guiding Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter
The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.
Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”
Several people from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.
“The hurricane arrived 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 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”
Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.
Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.
The mayor is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.
“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.
Solomon believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.
The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.
“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told local media.
“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
