🔗 Share this article

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

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an flyover of the area showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.