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The Caribbean Hurricane PageUpdates from the Islands
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Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 16:08:45 -0400 From: "Zapata, Leonie" (leonie.zapata@centrobe.com) Subject: request from Michigan Hi. I am a dominican and I am in Michigan. All my family is in the Dominican Republic. I talked to my mother yesterday and she informed me how during the huricane her second story apartment was flooded with water. How the staires were a cascade of water. She was not really concerned about her safety but of the safety of the less fortunate. Like the vast population that live in wooden houses and the campesinos that live on the mountains. And also she was concerned about what are they going to eat in a couple of months when their supplies are gone and they cannot find any fresh vegetables. My concerns are my friends and family that live in the areas of Azua and Hato Mayor. I have been on this site constantly and I have not heard anything about Hato Mayor. My mom, that is in Santo Domingo, have not heard anything from Hato Mayor either. It seems that all the lines are down. I read about Azua but not the names of the dead or the missing. I am also concerned about my fiance. His name is Jorge Mesa (kindly known as Yoyo Mesa). I have not been able to communicate with him. If anyone knows about any new reports on dominican news papers, please post it on this site. I greatly appreciate whoever created this site. This has been the only way how to find out what is happening in DR. Thank you in advance (anyone that can help me find my loved ones) Leonie Zapata leonie01@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 15:06:53 -0400 From: menshea@total.net Subject: Dominican Republic Friday 3:00 p.m Help has arrived! I have just read in the Spanish Online Newspaper "Ultima Hora Interactiva" at the following URL : http://www.ultimahora.com.do/250998/pp2.htm that at 7 p.m. this morning a C-160 plane from France had arrived in San Isidro. A few minutes later a C-15 from the US In the French plane there were 50 specialists in disasters with 5 tons of equipment. The US plane had reinforced canvas (my Spanish is not that good) to be use has shelters for the homeless. The US equipment was received by the Dominican Red Cross. The person in charge of receiving these goods said that it will be delivered this afternoon in Sin Isidro, San Luis y Herrera. Two more US planes were suppose to arrive as well this morning with more Canvas for shelters. Starting tomorrow it is believe that these Canvas will be delivered in other parts of the Capital and inside of the country. Please bare in mind that this is a traduction. Thank God, help is on the way! Lise, Montreal, Canada
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 13:50:48 -0600 From: Jorge Herrera Martinez (conejos@huatulco.net.mx) Hello Everybody, First of all thank you very much for the info your are able to provide. It is very hard not to know if your love one´s are allright. I have spoken on the phone to 2 different people in Santo Domingo and i am afraid I don't have any more news. They were fine but suffered like the rest from waterflooding and no electricity. What I would like to know is anything about Juan Dolio where my fiancee is living. She works for Thompson. Is it true they evacuated tourists to Sto. Dgo.? I still don't know anything about here. Thanks for the info & the help. Robert O. Kraak, at the moment in Mexico. Jorge Herrera Martínez
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 14:08:44 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Updating....Santiago, Dominican Republic...Friday 2:03 p.m. Ann Hoff-Fanaian Many people have been sending requests for information on Punta Cana. I have heard that the Higuey Province (where Punta Cana is) has lost agriculture, houses (those madeof wood and roofed with zinc or non-concrete structures). They don't have water or electricity. We are not sure about food provisions. I have heard a lot about La romana, a lot of devastation... worse than in San Pedro de Macoris (which is to the west of La Romana). The Free Zone is ravaged as well as Casa de Campo. all houses in La Romana in the center of town and in the outskirts are without roofs. We have reason to believe there are food and water shortages. We plan to go tomorrow to see what can be taken in, in terms of supplies. Roads seem to be passable. Roads from Santo Domingo to San Juan, However, are impassable in cars. You can get there on foot or by horse (or in big trucks if you have them) Also by air. The town of Tamayo, Province of Barahona is completely under water, and it seems the river has come to stay. I was informed people are on top of hte houses waiting for help and none has come... I also heard an airplane coming from Puerto Rico with medicines was able to land with difficulties. The pilots are ok but the supplies were lost. I cannot give you more information on Punta Cana than I already have. I hope this helps, I will try to continue feeding you info as soon as I can..... Regards, Ann
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 08:55:39 -0300 From: Danny Stone (danny.stone@codetel.net.do) Subject: Friday Update Santo Domingo, Friday, September 25 - Danny and Denise Stone Cleanup is underway as crews work to clear all the fallen trees from the streets. Many people can be seen chopping and sawing to remove trees and fallen limbs. Some restaurants and a few businesses have reopened, and others are still in the cleanup and repair process. More information comes out each day about the extent of the storm, but communication has not been restored with the eastern and western regions of the island. Over 70 people lost their lives in the storm and it is feared the death toll will rise as more areas are reached. Many are missing and are feared dead. Over 100,000 people are homeless and countless others lost all their possessions due to the effects of the storm. 50% of the electrical grid was destroyed and the President announced that it will cost $113 million to rebuild it. 90% of the agricultural crops of banana, plantaine, and rice were lost. The US is sending assistance and hopefully other nations and organizations will rally aid as well. The needs are overwhelming. ''We are facing a Titanic task,'' President Leonel Fernandez said. ''In a word, the outlook is desolate.'' We are thankful that most of you that were contacting us for help in locating loved ones here have made contact with them. We offered these sites for information which many said were a great help. Site http://www.dr1.com/daily/news092398.shtml is Santo Domingo news in English and they have doing special reports. Also check Yahoo news at http://www.yahoo.com because they have their stories archived by date and they are very easy to access. The other source is USA Today at http://www.usatoday.com/usafront.htm. The Stone family is fine, and we are doing what we can to help. We are looking for those who have the greatest need and trying to do what we can. We are thankful that our damage was minimal and we were unharmed physically. It has been emotionally challenging, both during the storm and experiencing the aftermath. If this page has been a blessing and help to you as it has to us, send Gert a quick note and let him know you appreciate it gert@gobeach.com . Danny, Denise and Jessica Stone THE LIVING STONES 1 Peter 2:2-5
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 10:10:12 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Subject: From the DR Santiago, Dominican Republic....September 24, 1998, Thursday. Many people have requested information about Punta Cana and Casa de Campo. We know Casa de Campo lost many of its buildings and roofs. Lots of harm to Altos de Chavon (casa de campo) We still don't have information on the area but we hear it is quite severe. Received information on the news about San Juan de la Maguana. The Dam overflowed, rivers flooded. The town of San Juan de la Maguana had lots of flooding and great loss to agriculture. One number of fatalities given was 70 and rising....I hope this helps.... Ann Hoff-Fanaian Santiago, Dominican Republic
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 10:17:28 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Subject: Update-Dominican Republic Santiago, Dominican Republic, Friday, September 25, 1998 10:11 a.m. Many people have contacted us about what is going on, specially in the Eastern Part of the country (Casa de Campo-La Romana; Punta Cana) We have said everything we know. I have also spoken to Nurys Alcantara in San Juan de la Maguana and she and her son are OK. Phone lines are up in San Juan, so if you need to call, you can. this is in response to the interested party, because I'm receiving your emails back undelivered.... Sorry we can't be of more help to others... I want to thank Gert van Dijken for all the relays of these messages. I imagine he is a very busy person and yet he's been the liason for thousands of people from around the world who have been worried about their relatives and interests in the DR. It has kept me busy, which is great, and I know the Stone family has attested to the same. We have received emails from friends who saw the postings on the web page as well as from others, hundreds of messages... The country is now receiving international relief. From Puerto Plata airport wereceive reports that 'amphibious' trucks are arriving today from Spain to go to San Juan de la Maguana. It seems these 'huge' trucks can go through rivers, etc, and help people who are without help. It has been reported 70% of the bridges in the country are down.... Thanks Gert, again, it has been a pleasure to 'work' with you...:) Ann
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 23:45:14 -0400 From: Jane & Bert Hanemaayer (hanemaay@vaxxine.com) Subject: re:dominican republic I have been in touch with people in San Juan de Maguana. The clinic that I used to work in was in the area of Mesopotamia, El Cepillo, El Corbano. Apparently there are more than a hundred people that have died and bodies are floating all over. The director of the clinic has put in a plea for Antibiotics such as Cipro and Sulfa drugs such as Bactrim and Sulfa because they expect major epidemics now because of the unsanitary conditions.Also needed are IV fluids. The ariport in Santo Domingo was opened today for relief flights and will be open on the weekend for commercial flights. Cora
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 03:39:17 -0400 From: Otniel Garcia (otnielg@altern.org) Subject: RV: The Hurricane has passed! Georges takes the Dominican Republic by Storm! (Report uses information that was available on the 23th) We woke to Tuesday morning not realizing the nightmare awaiting us and the developments that had occurred during the night in the Mona passage. Hurricane George had intensified and shifted his path to the south of the country, therefor forming a new trajectory now heading for the capital Santo Domingo and my location. At this point the government finally informed the people of the threat and issued locations of shelters, in most cases schools and other government run facilities not exactly built for hurricane resistance, something the government had failed to do earlier for no known particular reason. At around noon of the 22th the first strong winds reached Santo Domingo and the first rain set in. About an hour later the winds had reached their peak strength, occasionally intensifying. Trees winced immediately, the storm surge at the coast reached 3-7 feet above it's average rise and started eating away roads and houses. At around 2:30 the winds started to gradually shift to the north-west and until about 7:30 evening had turned completely around us. From 3 to 4 the winds pounded onto us from the north, hailing salt water from the ocean onto us like bullets. The country turned into a war zone. Trees where pulled from their location, roofs where hurled into the sky and disappeared, electrical concrete-poles fell and smashed houses, cars and occasionally people to bitts, the water entered places nobody knew existed in the houses. People hid out in shelters and their own houses in fear. For whatever god's they believed in, their voices cried out to them, throats knotted in agony. Everyone thought now to be the right moment to re-acquaintance with the creator. Nobody had expected this to be SO bad. The winds and the rain kept on pounding Santo Domingo for almost ten hours straight into the night. Even in the black darkness the winds kept on pushing houses away, the rain created landslides and turned rivers into powerful arms of distructions. Rivers rose fare above their beds, into cities, taking them away. Entire towns where wiped of the maps, relocated. As the new day closed in, people came from their shelters to look at the destruction. Electrical power was gone and would stay away for several week's to come. The death toll started to rise now, as fast as the storm surge, first 10 then 20 then 30. By the next evening more the 70 confirmed death's where reported, hundreds missing. As I write this report the toll has gone further up, I dare not to set the number. At 10:50 that night the countries leader, President Leonel Fernandez spoke to the people. As al the eyes of the nation reached up to him in hope, al he could give them where the horrendous statistics of the death's and damage and cry out to the battered nation for unity among the political parties and ask every citizen to help in rebuilding the country. It was al he could do. The government, working slow under the circumstances, promised to bring al the effort that is needed to rebuilt and heal the wounds left by George. The real damage will probably be know in a few weeks. But as we can see so far, George is the worst disaster to strike the nation since hurricane David in 1979. I will go tomorrow to a little town in the mountains called Jarabacoa where my parents reside. I haven't heard anything from them since Tuesday morning.
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 17:29:08 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Subject: Re: from Dominican Republic- still Dear Gert. I know many people want to know about how many people are dead...Exact numbers are unavailable, but since we saw in news originating in New York, the Alianza Dominicana, a Relief Program, want names, I am sending out the names of deceased that have been published in the afternoon paper El Nacional. In Bonao there are six dead: Jacinto Fabian, Julio Santana Aracena, Diogenes Perez Cabrera, Papi Tejada and a farmer and his son who drowned in the Yuna river when they were trying to reach a refuge. Official figures say there are 70 dead, though the number is rising by the hour. A school in Cambita, Garabito, San Cristobal, which served as a refuge for 40 people,most of the same family and of Haitian origins, had only 4 survivors. They are: Miguel, Crucito, Senegui and Chico Proscrea. However, Tambo, Nana, Juancito, Carlos, Alfredo, Teresa and Roberto Proscrea died. Many people are disappeared in San Juan de la Maguana, though only eight dead have been found. The places with the worst problems of flooding in San Juan are the barrios of El Cepillo, Mesopotamia, Los Cartones, Los Montes de Oca, Quija Quieta, Guachipita, Gualey and Los Mojaos. The bridge over the Tavara River in the community of Los Toros has disappeared, therefore, land communication between Azua and San Juan de la Maguana is very difficult. Also, communication from Azua to Barahona (southwest) is interrupted due to flooding in Jaquimeyes and La Canoa. This type of flooding also ocurred during the aftermaths of Hurricane David, nineteen years ago. In the Community of Palmarejo, Azua, arond 600 families don't have homes. Victims in this community have been identified as Reynaldo Mateo, 25 years old,., Mrs Higiina Ramirez, 70 years old and Morelia Silverio, 8 year old who drowned in the river. The girls father, Daniel Silverio, said that he and his daughter, along with 40 others were at a school for refuge in the community of Palmarejo, and when they heard the water coming at full speed, they were pulled by the currents. He lost his daughter due to the strong currents. These are reports in the Newspaper El Nacional of September 24, 1998..... Hope it helps people out there, who don't have information... We are still waiting to find out more about our loved ones in La Romana and in San Juan de la Maguana..... will keep you posted. Ann Hoff-Fanaian, Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 15:15:09 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Subject: Re: from Dominican Republic- still Santiago, Dominican Republic....September 24, 1998, Thursday. Many people have requested information about Punta Cana and Casa de Campo. We know Casa de Campo lost many of its buildings and roofs. Lots of harm to Altos de Chavon (casa de campo) We still don't have information on the area but we hear it is quite severe. Received information on the news about San Juan de la Maguana. The Dam overflowed, rivers flooded. The town of San Juan de la Maguana had lots of flooding and great loss to agriculture. One number of fatalities given was 70 and rising....I hope this helps.... Ann Hoff-Fanaian Santiago, Dominican Republic
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 12:28:31 -0400 From: menshea@total.net Subject: Re: Boca Chica Thursday, September 24. 12:00 p.m. I have just talked to my daughter in Boca Chica and to the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo. From the Embassy: It appears that they do not have communication with Boca Chica because of the phone lines. The road to and from Boca Chica to and from Santo Domingo is open. However no buses are running to and from these 2 places. From La Romana to Santo Domingo, it appears that the road is open as well. Banks: today is a holiday so all banks are close. Airport: closed at least until Saturday Water: they are working on it now. From my daughter in Boca Chica: There is NO water anywhere. Codetel (phone company): she waited in line for 2 hours to call me. She could not reverse the charges (she does not have much money in hand) because something is not working right. She said that the beach is gone but the houses on the beach remain standing. She said that UPSTAIRS (I am trying to figure out what she means by that) from her house NO houses are left standing. Now she lives above a hill from the beach....... so does she means a little higher than where she is ....... or across the highway. I don't know. Our communication was cut off. Hope that this info can help. Lise, Montreal, Canada
Date: Thursday, 24 September 1998 10:18am PT From: FRANGEL.CANNIZZARO (FRANGEL.CANNIZZARO@uboc.com) Subject: Hurricane Georges I spoke with a relative today. Below is a summary of information that she has heard through radio or observed personally. Life is returning to normal. Power has been partially restored in the residential area near the presidential palace although it was lost while I spoke on the telephone. Food and other materials are being flown in from the United States to restock grocery stores and feed the people in shelters. Food is being distributed by Armed Forces helicopters. Armed forces are also cleaning the debris from the streets. There are long lines at gas stations which are either out of gasoline or do not have electricity to pump the gas. Stores are re-opening. Hardware stores are doing good business as people buy supplies and tools to repair their homes.
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 09:09:41 -0400 From: "Thomen, Graciela" (GRACIELATH@iadb.org) Subject: Hurricane George in Santo Domingo I just received an e-mail from my sister who is in Santo Domingo. She and her husband and kids went to my father's house during the hurricane. She said, during the hurricane, there were no news on the radio regarding location and wind speed, so there was no real warning to the City. After the hurricane, it took her about an hour to go back to her apartment, which is only 5 blocks away, because there were trees that had fallen, pieces of houses scattered, and broken electric posts, in the middle of the streets. According to her, it all looks like a war zone. Rumors are that there were small towns in the mountains that were wiped out.
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 19:58:03 -0700 From: Tow Wang (tow_wang@corp.adaptec.com) Subject: News from Dominican Republic Hello. It is here 19:48 PST (= 22:48 AST). I just got off the phone with my parents in Santo Domingo. They told me: 1) There have been no fatalities nor injuries reported AMONG TOURISTS visiting the area of Punta Cana, at least not according to local radio stations, nor have they heard any rumours contradicting the radio broadcasts. 2) Streets in Santo Domingo are being cleaned up slowly; most of the big pieces obstructions and debris are being pushed off the roads. It seems the main avenues are "just about drivable". 3) The whole country is still without electricity. 4) Most of the glass panes were blown out of the control tower of the "Las Americas" airport, which is currently disabled. Reconditioning the airport has become top priority in order to receive foreign humanitarian aid. Tow Wang
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 22:30:46 -0400 From: menshea@total.net Subject: Re: Boca Chica I talked to my daughter in Boca Chica at 7:00 p.m. Apparently there is nothing left of the beach. Some houses are totally gone and some others have intensive damages; part of the roof missing etc... Apparently they have no food and little water but they hope to have some tomorrow. My daughter went to many houses before she could make a call; only a few phones are working. Thank you for keeping us informed. I was so worry all night that I kept reading the posting on your site and felt a little bit closer. From: Montreal, Canada Lise
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 21:16:11 -0400 From: C.Suarez (t.toshiaki@codetel.net.do) Subject: Situation in the Dominican Republic Hurricane Georges caused much damage in the southeastern part of the republic, specially in La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris and the Capital. A report of 12 death in the capital has been issued. There is a major power outtage in the area and looting has been reported. The northern part of the island is doing fine, no major damages reported. Santiago experienced winds of up to 60 MPH but no damage. Power, water and telephone are fine in Santiago, people is back to their normal ways of taking it easy. I'am from Puerto Rico and have no idea of what is going on there. I would like to get some information about Aguadilla and Lares, family lives in those two towns. Can anyone help me?
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 19:51:54 -0400 From: Daryoush & Ana Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Ann Hoff-Fanaian, Santiago, Dominican Republic....7:48 p.m. SOSA made two homers today. That's for his town of San Pedro de Macoris... it sure helps to relive the worries. The issue for all of us now is the lack of information, specially from the areas of the East, though we did find out the airport of Punta Cana, in Higuey Province, is no longer an airport. No news from San Pedro, nor La Romana. Neither from San Juan de la Maguana regions. The radio in Santo Domingo is echoing the plight for information we all want and need. Rumors say the San Juan de la Maguana Dam overflowed ( a friend in Puerto Plata reached someone by cell phone in San Juan and received that news.They called me to ask for information, don't have it) I will not post here how many they thought are dead, but hopefully by tomorrow we will know. Will try to keep people posted...if we get more information from the radio... Ann
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 19:45:07 EDT From: GARUT1@aol.com Subject: North Coast D.R. My friends e-mail reads We are still here, not much damage on the North Coast, much more in the South, still a little windy. We have been without electricity now for 25 hours. Hope this helps some of you. God Bless all the people.
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 16:23:14 -0400 From: Daryoush & Ana Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Santiago, Dominican Republic, 16:18.. Wednesday Sept 23.... Santiago is well, hardly any flooding...winds were heavy, but we doubt as heavy as in Santo Domingo. Puerto Plata is sunny and well, no harm there...just some trees down near the sea shore... Bonao was hit pretty hard, that's where George turned. At 4:30p.m. yesterday (tuesday) we figured George was coming to Santiago because we continued to get reports from La Vega (1/2 hour drive from here) that they had heavy winds. We never got any like that...It seems the eye of the hurricane was lost to all for some time and people in the north had no idea what was going on. We couldn't continue to track it down until later in the evening. We lost contact with out internet provider because the Camu River in La Vega severly damaged a line and we couldn't contact Santo Domingo..... We are well as well as the North up to the North west.....Lots of winds in Loma de Cabrera. No news from San Juan or Barahona, neither from the east in Punta Cana nor La Romana except that it was quite devastated..... Nagua (northeast) had lots of problems, a lot of agriculture lost (rice and plantain crops).... Ann Hoff-Fanaian Santiago, Dominican Republic
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 12:52:21 -0500 From: Martin_Posner@Dell.com Subject: Help...... Hi, Yesterday about 3 pm local i have spoken with a friend at the north coast of dominican republic (puerto plata). It was just a little more wind than usual but not much. I do not think that very much happened but it was not possible to get further information, it seems that the telefone lines All over the country crashed down. I think that the northern coast is o.k. and not much damaged. Reguards Martin Mposner@abo.rhein-zeitung.de
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