🔗 Share this article

This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are confirmed to have died, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the severely affected southwest parish of the area, is lacking water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. An authority previously described the town as under water, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also coping with the individual toll of the devastation.

“The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told local media.

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