🔗 Share this article

The local leader of the town of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but the mayor mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any more, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets 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 every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, 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 severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous task to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he told local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.