City Leader Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Epicenter

This local leader of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived 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 flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is without water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying 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 grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.