🔗 Share this article

The local leader of the town of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so severe that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of water 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 experience for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofing. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and critical services such as firefighting, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

He is now concentrating on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the pain that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

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

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the region revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can envision a future of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed local media.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.