Rebuilding Black River: The Task of a Lifetime
The Category 5 hurricane that hit Jamaica last week has left an indelible mark on the coastal town of Black River, St Elizabeth. Uprooted trees and lamp posts, rubble from landslides, and huge potholes make the road to the town centre a treacherous obstacle course. The water, which has turned communities into rivers, is the most daunting challenge.
As residents navigate the devastation, they are faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their homes and lives. For many, it's not just about restoring what was lost but also about starting anew. Beverly Stephens, who survived the storm with her son and elderly mother, implores the world to "tell Jamaica that we need help."
The death toll from the storm is still rising, with 50 reported deaths in Jamaica and 31 in Haiti. The full extent of the damage may take days to confirm, but one thing is clear: the country needs billions of dollars to rebuild.
Aston McCatty, a hotel owner, estimates that it will take "billions upon billions" to restore his properties, which were also damaged by Hurricane Beryl last summer. "You are looking at hundreds of years of history in one day totally destroyed," he says, pointing to the parish church across the road from his hotel.
The tourism community of Treasure Beach is also feeling the brunt of the storm. Allan Daley, a fisherman, had his house partially destroyed and his boat severely damaged by a shipping container. "I've never seen anything like this," he says. "It was the hardest wind I ever felt in my life."
Meanwhile, tourists Sri Sudevi and Rachel Dimond, who were stranded in Treasure Beach during the Covid-19 crisis, are shaken but grateful to have made it out alive. They credit the people of Treasure Beach for their resilience and kindness.
As the recovery efforts begin, local chefs like Candace Dryden are providing hot meals and drinking water to residents who have no power or running water. "A warm plate of food will remind people that they're still home," she says.
Climate experts like Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie of the Jamaica Environment Trust say that Melissa's strength and slow movement are clear signs of climate change. "The science shows that while we may not see more storms overall, the ones we do get are becoming stronger, wetter and more destructive."
As the people of Black River begin the long journey to rebuild their lives, they are left wondering how they will recover from this disaster. The task ahead is daunting, but one thing is certain: they will rebuild, and they will survive.
The Category 5 hurricane that hit Jamaica last week has left an indelible mark on the coastal town of Black River, St Elizabeth. Uprooted trees and lamp posts, rubble from landslides, and huge potholes make the road to the town centre a treacherous obstacle course. The water, which has turned communities into rivers, is the most daunting challenge.
As residents navigate the devastation, they are faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their homes and lives. For many, it's not just about restoring what was lost but also about starting anew. Beverly Stephens, who survived the storm with her son and elderly mother, implores the world to "tell Jamaica that we need help."
The death toll from the storm is still rising, with 50 reported deaths in Jamaica and 31 in Haiti. The full extent of the damage may take days to confirm, but one thing is clear: the country needs billions of dollars to rebuild.
Aston McCatty, a hotel owner, estimates that it will take "billions upon billions" to restore his properties, which were also damaged by Hurricane Beryl last summer. "You are looking at hundreds of years of history in one day totally destroyed," he says, pointing to the parish church across the road from his hotel.
The tourism community of Treasure Beach is also feeling the brunt of the storm. Allan Daley, a fisherman, had his house partially destroyed and his boat severely damaged by a shipping container. "I've never seen anything like this," he says. "It was the hardest wind I ever felt in my life."
Meanwhile, tourists Sri Sudevi and Rachel Dimond, who were stranded in Treasure Beach during the Covid-19 crisis, are shaken but grateful to have made it out alive. They credit the people of Treasure Beach for their resilience and kindness.
As the recovery efforts begin, local chefs like Candace Dryden are providing hot meals and drinking water to residents who have no power or running water. "A warm plate of food will remind people that they're still home," she says.
Climate experts like Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie of the Jamaica Environment Trust say that Melissa's strength and slow movement are clear signs of climate change. "The science shows that while we may not see more storms overall, the ones we do get are becoming stronger, wetter and more destructive."
As the people of Black River begin the long journey to rebuild their lives, they are left wondering how they will recover from this disaster. The task ahead is daunting, but one thing is certain: they will rebuild, and they will survive.
. A Category 5 hurricane is just insane! I mean, I know we've been warned about climate change and all that, but to see it firsthand like this... it's just devastating. And the worst part is, these people have no choice but to start rebuilding from scratch. Like, Beverly Stephens' house was destroyed, can you even imagine? 
I feel so helpless watching news like this.
. And the fact that it's been so long since the Covid-19 crisis and we're still seeing devastation like this... it just shows how much more vulnerable our communities are now. I mean, we need to talk about climate change, for sure, but we also need to talk about how we can support these people in their time of need.
. It's crazy what one person (or even a small group) can do to make a difference. So I'm gonna try to look into that and see what I can do to help out. We should all be doing more, imo 
just saw that news about Jamaica... so sad what happened with black river 
it's crazy to think that those ppl had to deal w/ a cat 5 hurricane 
but on the bright side, ppl r coming together to help each other out 
like them chefs providing food & water, talk about community spirit 
This is so crazy! Like I was watching that storm live on TV last week and it looked like the end of the world 
. I'm thinking about all those people who lost their homes and livelihoods. It's heartbreaking, but at the same time, I'm inspired by the resilience of the Jamaican people 
. The thing that got me is how climate change is playing a major role in this disaster. It's so important for us to take action and reduce our carbon footprint 
. I'm definitely sending my thoughts and support to Black River and the people of Jamaica 
.
i mean how r u sposed 2 recover from a storm that's literally flooded ur town? 
the tourism industry is gonna take forever 2 bounce back too 
and climate change is like, super obvious here 
50+ deaths in jamaica alone thats crazy 
. It's great to hear about the resilience and kindness of the locals, especially Candace Dryden and the local chefs who are providing hot meals and drinking water to those in need 
. The fact that climate experts are pointing out that this storm was caused by climate change is a wake-up call for us all 
. We should be prepared for more storms like this in the future 
. It's going to take time, effort, and resources for Jamaica to rebuild, but they will get through it 
I'm not sure why we're so quick to pour billions into rebuilding the same old tourist spots in Jamaica. Think about it, those areas are basically just fragile ecosystems waiting for a storm like this to happen. It's time to rethink our approach to tourism and start prioritizing sustainability over profit 
. The idea of "rebuilding" is just code for "more money, more greed".
. I mean, billions of dollars sounds like a lot, but have we thought this through? Are we just throwing money at the problem without addressing the root cause? I'm worried that we're gonna end up with more debt and less sustainability in the long run 
It's gonna be a wild ride, let's hope they can rebuild something even better than before 
.
I mean, come on, billions of dollars?! Can't we use some of that cash for a more sustainable solution? Like, instead of rebuilding the same old infrastructure, why not invest in sea walls or green roofs to prevent this kind of damage in the first place? 
It's just common sense... I wish they would prioritize the long-term benefits over just throwing money at the problem.