City Leader Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Worst-Hit Area

This mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

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

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

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

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the priority 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 relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.