City Leader Guiding Rebuilding Efforts at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
This local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster.
Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Several people from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.
“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.
“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding 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 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 severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over half a million residents without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.
He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.
“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.
The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.
“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour 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 although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed local media.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
