Mayor Leading Recovery Efforts at Storm Melissa's Epicenter
This local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.
“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”
Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.
“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he added.
“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”
The mayor explained that Black River, located in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.
Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.
He is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.
“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.
The mayor believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River 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 main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has seen the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.
“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told reporters.
“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.
