🔗 Share this article

The mayor of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that are still being verified due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around nine hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than 500,000 inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become almost impossible because all the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

The mayor is now focused on working to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage 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 task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.