🔗 Share this article

The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

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

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now focused on working to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our stores, 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.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and better,” he informed local media.

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