City Leader Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Storm Melissa's Ground Zero
The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation caused by the disaster.
Speaking on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.
“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.
“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.
“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the response center. 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 rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”
The mayor explained that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.
Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.
The mayor is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.
“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.
Solomon estimates that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.
“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.
