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

This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

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

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying 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 moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is without running water and power, and most buildings have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.