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The Caribbean Hurricane PageUpdates from the Islands
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If you are looking for family/friends in the Dominican Republic, you can post your plea for help on the Hispaniola Lost & Found Bulletin Board. For people who have been in contact with the Dominican Republic, or live on the Dominican Republic, please, also take a look at this Bulletin Board and try to see if you can help out these sometimes desparate people...
The most recent reports can be found on another page.
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 17:30:27 EDT From: Madugan@aol.com Subject: Fwd: Sosa Foundation To Help Dominicans There is an address at the bottom of the article where people can donate water, food, clothing, dollars through the Chicago Cubs & Sammy Sosa. Don't know if would be of interest to anyone on any of your websites - but - it is good news. Thank you for all you have done - the relief your websites have provided - gleaning some reports of loved ones found. We have been told our son is alive - but - we know nothing more than that. May God bless you and keep you. Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 20:56:49 EDT From: AOLNews@aol.com Subject: Sosa Foundation To Help Dominicans Sosa Foundation To Help Dominicans .c The Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) -- Though his mind remained on his team's wild-card race and his personal battle for the home-run record, Sammy Sosa said Friday his heart was back home in the hurricane-ravaged Dominican Republic. Prior to a game against the Houston Astros, Sosa said his charitable foundation was organizing a relief effort for victims of Hurricane Georges, which caused billions of dollars in damage and killed at least 300 in the Caribbean this week. At least 210 of the fatalities occurred in his native Dominican Republic. ``All the information I get from my country is bad,'' said Sosa, adding he has friends affected by the storm. ``They're finding a lot of bodies. A lot of people died and a lot of people have no homes.'' Asked if it was difficult to concentrate on baseball while his country struggles, Sosa said Dominican president Leonel Fernandez told him to keep making his country proud on the diamond. Earlier this season, Sosa had offered to host Mark McGwire on a golfing vacation to a club in his native country. ``I have to tell you, Mark, Casa de Campo is not there anymore,'' Sosa said, managing a smile. ``It was lost in the hurricane.'' Sosa entered Friday's game tied for the season home run record with McGwire, both with 65. EDs:@ Contributions can be sent to The Sammy Sosa Charitable Foundation, c/o The Chicago Cubs, 1060 West Addison Street, Chicago, IL 60613. Donations of food, water and clothing can be arranged through the Cubs' administrative office at 773-404-2827. AP-NY-09-25-98 2053EDT Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 14:31:24 -0700 From: Ro bert Abel (rneabel@earthlink.net) Subject: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - PEOPLE FOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To anybody looking for some uplifting news on the situation in the Dominican Republic, specifically the town of Bani. I spoke with my fiance who lives in Bani and he states that they have suffered some water damage ie flooding, but all in all they have weathered the storm ok. Phone lines are starting to be repaired today and electricity is on its way to being repaired. Those of you trying to reach family members or friends in the Dominican Republic keep calling, don't give up!!!!! The lines are starting to come up and the government is doing the best they can with what they have. Highway 2 is open. I will be speaking with my fiance this evening pst, if anybody would like me to try and find out any information in the city of Bani please send me your e-mail. My e-mail address is rneabel@earthlink.net. Thank you to all of the people praying for the people in the Dominican Republic and keep the prayer chain going. PRAYERS REALLY DO WORK!!!!! GOD BLESS.
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 14:47:22 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Subject: Anyone wanting to send Aid--- There is a Special Television Aid Program being transmitted via Cadena Sur on the Interstat Satellite which is reaching countries such as Italy, United States and coountries in Central America. Any aid (money, food, supplies) can be called in to the following phone numbers set up to receive this aid. Credit cards are also to be accepted shortly... (809)238-5076 / (809-688-2565 / (809)6882656 / (809) 238-5072/ (809) 238-5076 / (809) 688-3888 ALSO BY FAX: (809) 688-3737 There is also a Radio Chain transmitting in many communities of Dominican Republic as well as communities in Massachussets and New York State. Dominicans in the country are also phoning in.....
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 13:09:28 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Subject: Aid for Dominican Republic Dear Gert and all: Many people have read reports in foreign media that aid seems not be distributed adequately. Aid has been pouring in and many teams of experts in disasters have been coming from Spain and the US and France. Also, Italy and Canada are adding to the International Assistance Plan which is acting in solidarity with the disaster and tragedy of this country. I think aid will get where it is supposed to because many community groups and journalists are keeping an eye out for what is going on. This is a national crisis and emergency and relief is needed in almost half of the geography of the country. Many people, however, are probably confusing the situation occurring in the country in which the alarm was not set out in time for people to take necessary precautions in some areas where th hurricane hit the hardest/ like the capital city, Bonao, Azua and San Juan de la Maguana. Chancellor Eduardo la Torre, Foreign Affairs Secretary, is receiving and coordinating the distribution of aid. He has proven to be quite an organized professional. The San Isidro Air Force Base near Santo Domingo has been receiving flights from different countries including the US Air Force Plane "New Amsterdam" which arrived at 4:30 p.m. yesterday piloted by Karem Love. NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVE- 74 volunteer firefighters arrived yesterday from New York to give aid to the stricken areas in the Dominican Republic. They belong to the Search and Rescue Team of the Fire Department of New York City.
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 12:04:31 -0400 From: Ann Hoff-Fanaian (d.fenaian@codetel.net.do) Subject: Updating Santiago, Dominican Republic, Ann Hoff-Fanaian, September 26, 1998, 11:15 a.m. PUNTA CANA, LA ROMANA, SAN PEDRO, HATO MAYOR (in the East), BANI, AZUA, AND SAN JUAN (WEST), BONAO, (north of Santo Domingo). MONTE PLATA AND BAYAGUANA....(nORTHeast of Santo Domingo) We will try to recount what we can about these different places. Many people have been asking about them constantly....Our accounts are from the Newspaper Listing Diario issued today, www.listin.com.do. We will have some first hand news on La Romana and San Pedro de Macoris later today or tomorrow,since my husband has gone along with my brothers fiance to find out what is going on. We still can't access them by phone... Hotels in the east badly hurt. Those which have had to close down are: Casa de Campo (La Romana- for more than 3 months), Casa del Mar, Club Dominicus (La Romana/Bayahibe-for 2 weeks), Club Mediterranee (Punta Cana), Nastura Park and Allegro de Cabeza de toro. Boca Chica and Juan Dolio had loss of property but not severe damages... Hotels there havecontinued open (Hamaca, Coral Costa Caribe, Barcelo Capella. Worst affected areas are La Romana, Bayahibe and Punta Cana but their services will be up and open by the begining of the Winter Season. MONTE PLATA and close communities don't have road access and can only be reachedby air. It has been 40 years since Monte Plata has had to suffer damages from a hurricane. Hundreds of homes don't have roofs. Rural communities seriously affected are Chirino, La Guaza, Mata los Indios, San Jose, Yabacao, Casueza, and Plaza Cacique. Dozens of families are trapped due to the high waters of the Ozama, Baya , Yabacao and Savita rivers. Only two are unaccounted for and no casualties because people went to refuges in time. BAYAGUANA three thousand houses were damaged and lost. Loss in agriculture and the dominican Shrimp company was completely lost. BONAO AND COTUI- Devastation near Bonao include the municipalities of Cotui, Cevicos, Fantino, Angelina and communities of Pina Vieja, Jima Arriba, Jioma Abajo, Villa Maria, El Rincon and San Miguel. phone and electricity poles and lines are on the ground.These communities have little or no access by land. Bonao residents in the barrios of San Isidro, Boca del Yuna,Brisa del Yuna, Bejucal, Masipedro, Los Platanos, Los Arroces are in traumatic conditions due to loss of houses. There is no potable water or electricity. The Main Park in Bonao has lost all its trees. Traffic lights were lost too. BOTANNICAL GARDEN has suffered many losses of endemic plants.... I heard in News coming fromNew York taht there are only 10,000 (ten thousand) people in refuges, I could assure you that the number is much higher., specially if we compare with the number this same newscast gave on people in refuges in Puerto Rico as 30 thousand. However, people in refuges, according to authorities are 208,700 nationally in 693 locations in the country. In the east 145,515 people are at refuges and of these 135,000 are located in San Pedro de Macoris....In the north 30,764 people are living in refuges. In the south, including the capital city there are 52,788 people in refuges. The official number of deaths has now risen to 166. SENATE- senators are requesting a full investigation of how the Emergency Commitee handled the crisis. The Association of Metereologists say that Civil Defense Chief censured and hid the information needed concerning the gravity of the Hurricane as it was approaching the country as well as its change in course during the early morning hours tuesday, September 22. Authorities were expecting it to go north as soon as it hit Puerto Rico, and it seems caution was not given to people that the eye of the hurricane was coming inland. SAN JUAN DE LA MAGUANA- Twelve thousand houses were destroyed by the San Juan River after the Sabaneta Dams waters took over 8 barrios of the community of San Juan. There is an estimate of 800 to 1 thousand dead, though only 21 have been reported dead. There are over a thousand people unaccounted. The areas in San Juan which lost more houses are: Mesopotamia, Los Montes de Oca, El Cepitllo, La cueva de Jaiba, Quija quierta, os Cartones, Guachipita and Los Mojados. The communities of Las Matas de Farfan, Hato Nuevo, Bohei, and Rosario cannot be accessed by land. TAMAYO-BARAHONA. At least six people have died in this community due to thirst and hunger in Tamayo. This is a community of six thousand people which is under water due to the Yaque del Sur river change of course which has flooded the whole area. however, yesteraday (friday) two thousand food rations were taken in by the Plan social.
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 10:36:15 -0600 From: Robert O. Kraak (conejos@huatulco.net.mx) Subject: Dom. Rep. Hello Everybody, Just heard through England that there are no known injured people amongst British tourist & employees of British Tour Operators. I am still not able to contact anybody in the Dom. Rep. though. Thanks again Gert for providing this service and also thanks to the poeple in the Dom. Rep. trying to keep us as informed as possible. Any news on Juan Dolio yet? Robert O. Kraak
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 10:42:47 -0400 From: Tim Hall (timhall@codetel.net.do), Honorary Consul, The Canadian Consulate Subject: Hurricane Georges Canadian Embassy assisting donors for Hurricane Georges survivors The Canadian Embassy in the Dominican Republic is assisting private donors in their efforts to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic. At this time the death toll is estimated over one hundred and the number of homeless is reported at more than 200,000. Meanwhile many people speculate that these estimates are low. While relief efforts are already underway, the country is still assessing its damages and only time will tell the extent of what is needed and where it should go. Many villages along the south coast and in the interior are without food and water. Most of the country's agricultural crop has been wiped out. Items badly needed include food, medicine, clothing, furniture and building materials. The question on many people's mind is "what can we do to help and where can we send donations?" The embassy will be monitoring relief programs in the country in order to advise and otherwise assist in the channeling and distribution of donations. Any requests for this type of assistance should be directed to Santo Domingo The Canadian Embassy Pierre Giroux, Charge d'Affaires The Canadian Embassy, Santo Domingo Pierre Giroux, Charge d'Affaires The Canadian Embassy, Santo Domingo Tel. 1-809-685-1136 Fax 1 809-682-2691 Email: e.canada@codetel.net.do Puerto Plata The Canadian Consulate Tim Hall, Honorary Consul Tel 1-809-586-5761 Fax 1-809-586-5762 Email: timhall@codetel.net.do
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 09:05:05 -0300 From: Danny Stone (danny.stone@codetel.net.do) Subject: Storm Track Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Saturday, September 26, 8:30 a.m. AST Our electricity has been on all night and this morning we have water. There are no guarantees how long either will last, but we are very thankful. Many of you have asked about providing assistance to help with the recovery and we are working on a plan that may provide opportunities for donation of financial assistance and material goods. As soon as we have something in place we will let you know the details. So many of you have written wanting to know about specific areas of the country because you either have family or friends there or you have visited there before. Along with the sites we gave in our last update we would like to add a new one for you. The Miami Herald online has a great map of the DR showing the path of the storm across the island, wind speeds at each location, and stats at the bottom on losses and damage. It is at http://www.herald.com/hurricane98/docs/domrep.htm . For those of you knew to our updates you can find them all at http://www.gobeach.com/hurr.htm . You can read the latest from the top and going down. At the bottom of the page you can find Earlier reports have been moved to this page . Click on this page and it will take you into the archives and you can read the reports of the storm as it move across the DR. At the bottom of each page click on this page to keep going back in the archives. We still have not heard from the administrator of the Rose of Sharon Orphanage in San Juan de la Maguana. The home houses 80 boys and 12 workers. It is built out of concrete and steel and we are hopeful that it stood up to the storm and that the boys are safe. The surrounding village Pueblo Nuevo had many wooden structures with thatched roofs so we are concerned that many of these people lost their homes in the storm. Many of the villages outside of San Juan are remote and built along the rivers. They usually make their homes out of 2-3" poles stacked up much like a log cabin is built, only smaller. The cracks between the poles are filled with manure which is sometimes whitewashed when dry, and the structure is completed with a thatched roof of palm leaves. We think of the family of 10 in El Capa who lived in one of those houses that was only 8 by 12 feet. One day after visiting with them we wondered what would happen if a hurricane ever hit this village. Now it has. Not only were the winds a danger, but the heavy rains caused flooding and there are reports that some of these villages are simply gone, blown down and washed away by the storm. Danny, Denise and Jessica Stone THE LIVING STONES 1 Peter 2;2-5NIV
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 19:05:18 -0700 From: Cecilia Jamous (cjamous@ucsd.edu) Subject: Thanks! RE: Santo Domingo Hi, I just wanted to thank you for your website. I was really worried about my husband in Santo Domingo who is a med student at Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE). He was finally able to contact me by telephone to let me know he is allright. He is staying in an area 20 minutes from his school called 'Naca'. He said his area was not hit as bad as the village area. He could not talk for long but he said Santo Domingo was hit bad as I'm sure everyone knows by now. He told me of an incident where 20 people were electrocuted by a downed power line. They were out after curfew and roaming around in the middle of the night. He thinks maybe they were looters. He said today, his building ran out of water so I don't know where he is going to find any but the supermarket down the street opened up. Before I had spoken to my husband I spoke to someone in the US Embassy and also from the Univeristy and they said pretty much the same things. That the area that my husband lives in have the stronger houses and that it was the poorer neighborhoods by the beach that sustained the most damage. I guess their houses are not very sturdy. What a shame! Well, thanks to all in Santo Domingo who posted updates and other websites to try. I found more information from individuals posting than I did from the media in the US. It seems they only care about reporting selected items and not about how the real people are doing. I was very disappointed in them but I have faith in the individuals out there that have made a difference by offering websites such as this one and others posting updates. Thanks! Cecilia in San Diego, California
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 21:10:10 -0300 From: Danny Stone (danny.stone@codetel.net.do) Subject: Friday, Sept 25 Update Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Friday, September 25, 8:30 p.m. AST Miracle of miracles! Our electricity was restored at 7:23 p.m. AST. We have friends just blocks away who do not have theirs yet so we are not certain how much of the city has been restored. When the generator stopped and we went dark, we thought they were having problems with the generator again as they did last evening. Then we noticed the other apartments in this building had lights, and when we switched back to city connection we did too. You should have heard us shouting as if our team had just won the championship game. We feel very fortunate and blessed this evening because many of the Dominican people are suffering greatly. We are going to give you some internet sites that will provide you with stories that will make your heart ache. The Santo Domingo News in English is now posting updates as well as giving news and their site provides archives if you need to back track. You can find them at http://www.dr1.com/index.shtm/. We have given these sites in some of our updates, but many of you are new to our list and we wanted to provide them again. Also many of you are still writing us for info about certain areas and these sites will give you the latest information on both residents and tourists. USA Today Online has been doing a good job of providing info on the DR and you can today's article at http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/1998/wgdomini.htm . Another site that has been covering the islands well and has archives easily available is Yahoo News and you can find island news at http://headlines/yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/US/Hurricanes/ . Many have written asking about upcoming travel plans here. The news has reported that the main airport Las Americas would begin receiving limited flights today. Since Puerta Plata airport was dependent on the radar system at Las Americas they cannot resume a full schedule until that system is fully operational again. The French have flown in some radar equipment to help with this situation. The airport at Punta Cana was severely damaged and will probably not be operational again until December. La Romana will be operating local flights only, no international. Punta Cana, La Romana, and the Casa de Campo area received major damage. The road to San Juan de la Maguana in the west has a bridge washed out and it has been reported that aid is being transported to that point, then carried across the river by hand and reloaded in vehicles on the other side. So aid is getting through, but this bridge outage has hindered rescue teams from reaching this region. A 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew remains in effect until further notice. Time does not permit me to report more. If you have internet access please go to the sites above and there you will find many details. We will continue to give updates during the recovery process to let you know how things are going. Once again thanks for your notes of encouragement. We appreciate them so much and we appreciate your understanding that we cannot always answer each one individually. Many of you have asked about us and what we do here. When we are a little further along in the recovery, we will send you that information. For now our concern is to help our city and nation recover from this terrible castastrophe and to keep you informed of the progress. Your friends in Santo Domingo, Danny, Denise and Jessica THE LIVING STONES 1 Peter 2:2-5NIV
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 17:32:48 -0400 From: menshea@total.net Subject: Communications problems Azua-San Juan etc. __ Friday Sept. 25, I have also read in the Spanish Online Newspaper "Ultima Hora Interactiva" at the following URL : http://www.ultimahora.com.do/250998/pp2.htm dated today Friday Sept 25th... that in terms of communication the following highways will seriously be affected: Azua-San Juan, sus puentes; San Juan-Elías Piña, puentes; cruce de san Juan-Barahona; Barahona-Pedernales, Bohechío-San Juan; Azua-Puerto Viejo; Barahona-cruce de Cabral (copied from that newspaper) I hope this info can help Leonie Zapata! Maybe that is why you did not hear much Leonie. Lise, Montreal, Canada
Earlier reports have been moved to this page.
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