🔗 Share this article Mayor Guiding Rebuilding Work at Storm Melissa's Worst-Hit Area This local leader of Black River – an area described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the immense storm surges and extensive devastation wrought by the disaster. Satellite images reveal the community of this location prior to and following the impact of the powerful hurricane. Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre. “The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he stated. “And that devastation is so severe that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.” Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges. “The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added. Mayor of Black River assessing the damage in the wake of the disaster. “We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, 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 electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofs. One official earlier described the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants without power. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings. Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor. He is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster. “The mayor's car was totally submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing assistance for the most vulnerable at this point,” he explains. The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s destruction. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from impassable roads, which have isolated the town. “Efforts are underway to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in need at this time,” he says. National leadership has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost. “This will be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and better,” he informed reporters. “It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.