City Leader Guiding Recovery Efforts at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area
The local leader of Black River – a community referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread devastation wrought by the catastrophe.
Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”
Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.
“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.
“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That 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 frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”
The mayor stated that the town, located in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofing. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to salvage their belongings.
Rescue efforts and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.
The mayor is now concentrating on working to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.
“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.
The mayor estimates that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, 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. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this time,” he says.
The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.
“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told local media.
“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.