🔗 Share this article City Leader Guiding Recovery Efforts at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area This local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster. Aerial images show the town of Black River prior to and following the impact of the powerful hurricane. Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center. “Our community of this area is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.” Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties. “Storm Melissa arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added. Mayor Richard Solomon assessing the damage in the aftermath of the disaster. “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 increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary moment for us.” Solomon stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings. Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor. He is now concentrating on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the disaster. “My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says. Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town. “Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds. The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed. “It is going to be a massive undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he told reporters. “We will get it done. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.