🔗 Share this article

This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense flooding and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to communication and transportation challenges.

“Storm Melissa arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, 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 explained that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes Solomon.

He is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

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

“Efforts are underway to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

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