🔗 Share this article

The local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning 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 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment 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 climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without water and power, and most buildings have had their roofing. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was totally covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he says.

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

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, 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 massive task to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.