🔗 Share this article

The local leader of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and widespread destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but Solomon noted receiving word of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase 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 stated that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to rebuild Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

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