Mayor Guiding Rebuilding Work at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
This mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.
Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.
“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and transportation difficulties.
“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.
“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding 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 stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.
Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.
He is now concentrating on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.
“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.
The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.
“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he says.
The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.
“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told local media.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.