Mayor Leading Rebuilding Efforts at Storm Melissa's Ground Zero
The mayor of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and widespread devastation wrought by the disaster.
Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.
“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”
Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word 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 a lot of rain,” he added.
“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary moment for us.”
Solomon stated that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is without water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.
Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.
He is now concentrating on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.
“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate 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 annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.
“Efforts are underway to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively 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 first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.
“It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he told reporters.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.
