🔗 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 storm surges and extensive destruction caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon described riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to communication and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise 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 explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have lost their roofing. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to mud pits. Residents are now removing water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have become almost impossible because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. My roof went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, 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 Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. Most of our stores, 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 adds.

The prime minister has seen the devastation first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a massive task to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.