City Leader Guiding Recovery Work at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area

This mayor of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier 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 mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an flyover of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” 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 rebuild better,” he affirmed.