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

This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a bit scary 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.”

The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofs. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid 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 moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.