🔗 Share this article

This mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“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 increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes 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 individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an flyover of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.