🔗 Share this article

This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered 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 praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 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 while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he told local media.

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