City Leader Guiding Recovery Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter

This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

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

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and most buildings have had their roofing. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now concentrating on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates 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 blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

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

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and better,” he told local media.

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