🔗 Share this article

The mayor of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense storm surges and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor mentioned hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“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 response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the hard-hit south-western parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and electricity, and most buildings have lost their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the main roads of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and attempting to rescue 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, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

Solomon believes that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

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

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

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

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