Mayor Leading Rebuilding Work at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
This mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.
“Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.
“We experienced 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 more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”
The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and attempting to salvage their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.
The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll 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 concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.
Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.
“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.
