🔗 Share this article

The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

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

Solomon explained that the town, located in the severely affected south-western region of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with over 500,000 residents without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he says, the priority is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

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