City Leader Guiding Rebuilding Efforts at Hurricane Melissa's Ground Zero
The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.
Speaking on the harrowing experience, the mayor recalled riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.
“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”
Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel challenges.
“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.
“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”
The mayor stated that Black River, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and power, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.
Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.
He is now focused on working to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.
“The mayor's car was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand 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.
The mayor estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.
“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.
National leadership has witnessed the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority 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 emerging more resilient and better,” 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 reconstruct stronger,” he said.
