🔗 Share this article

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

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on working to help the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

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

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

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.