🔗 Share this article

The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

The mayor explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

The mayor estimates that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.