Mayor Leading Rebuilding Work at Storm Melissa's Ground Zero
The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.
Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.
“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”
Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.
“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.
“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
Solomon stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. One official previously described the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.
Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.
The mayor is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.
“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.
The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.
“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.
National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.
“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he told local media.
“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.
