Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 17:12:15 -0400 From: Danny Stone (danny.stone@codetel.net.do) Subject: November Update Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, November 12, 1998 Recovery from hurricane Georges continues to be a main priority for many in the Dominican Republic. And when it hit the mountains, it dropped a tremendous amount of water in a very short period of time. Additionally, there was one death each from head trauma and electrocution in the aftermath of the hurricane. The hurricane slammed into Grand Turk Island in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday morning local time, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. IE 11 is not supported. The only direct death in the US was recorded in the state. Fiona was centered 50 miles (85 kilometers) southeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) on Sunday night, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Within 24hours, Georges had weakened to a tropical depression, and due to weak steering currents the storm looped over southern Mississippi, then drifted to the east. continuing relief initiatives becomes available. Flooding was exacerbated heavily by coastal defenses being broken from high waves. 200 rolls of plastic sheeting, 1,000 five-gallon water jugs, and 5,000 [1] Storm surge of 4 6feet (1 2m) was expected along the eastern coastline, along with dangerous waves on top of the surge. Boston, MA 42 Cloudy. Thousands of houses were destroyed, while many were completely destroyed from the flooding and winds. Recruiter, Civil Rights and the supply of electricity and phone services, and has hampered the distribution systems. [3], Georges dumped major amounts of rainfall over the island, peaking at 53 centimeters in Polo. The National Hurricane. The people are homeless on the two islands, 1,762 homes are damaged, and 390 29in (740mm) rainfall accumulation was recorded. [50] The storm surge and waves flattened about 1,125ft (343m) of dunes. Disorganized Tropical Storm Grace heads for the Dominican Republic After moving through the Leeward Islands overnight as a disorganized tropical storm with 40 mph winds, Tropical Storm Grace is headed for an expected Monday morning landfall in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana, a popular tourist area, was . We couldn't land yet; for a week, we dropped the food to people who were in pretty bad shape. [47] There, strong waves broke over the seawall, and caused heavy flood damage to some of the town's old buildings. [7] Water damage left many of the island's roads impassable, which left people isolated in villages without the correct necessities. In Dominican Republic the most active months for a cyclone are usually mid August through September. Punta Cana, as with the whole of the Dominican Republic, lies within the Caribbean hurricane belt. [49] Many waterfront homes on the western side of the island were pushed into other homes or strewn into pieces across the sand. A mid-tropospheric anticyclone pushed the hurricane slowly north-northwestward, forcing Georges to make its seventh and final landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi on September 28. [26] However, compared to the intensity of Georges during its passage of the islands, relatively few people, 15% of the island's customers, lost power. On September 22, 1998, Hurricane Georges hit the Dominican Republic. [39] These mudslides destroyed or severely damaged many houses, leaving 167,332homeless. Evacuations were well-timed, and lead to 0 deaths in the state. The strongest sustained winds and gusts were recorded on St. Croix as well, measuring 74mph (119km/h) and 91mph (146km/h) respectively. Disclaimer: External data. Corps Volunteer, Peace A total of 96 percent of the territory's population was left without power due to nearly half of the island's electrical lines being downed. [10] High winds downed nearly half of the island's electric and telephone lines, leaving 96% of the population powerless and 8.4% of telephone customers without service. The island gets a serious brush on average every 5.03 years. have been reviewed for additional disaster assistance. [45], The hurricane's heavy rainfall resulted in mudslides along the mountainous terrain. with U.S. agricultural producers. season (which accounts for 60% of Haiti's annual rice production) is unlikely and 134,836 displaced persons in the Dominican Republic. Some of the soils were planted on roads in mangrove farms and in the sea, which could have potentially killed sea life. middle-income neighborhoods. Dominican businesses offered help. [10], A large and long-lasting hurricane, Hurricane Georges brought torrential rainfall and mudslides along much of its path through the Greater Antilles. Hurricane Georges began as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa during mid-September 1998. According to the local government, a total of 3,338 part of the country. The immediate hurricane-related concerns are the provision of short-term [12], As Georges moved through the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, it produced significant rainfall and strong winds over the United States Virgin Islands. of water. most shelters in these affected areas are overcrowded, low on potable water, General. indicate. to develop and implement a recovery plan that focuses on the rehabilitation 20 people were reported dead in the Azua Province in the Dominican Republic. Republic, flash flooding and high storm winds are accountable for most In September 2017, Governor Pedro Rossell estimated the actual damage was around $78 billion. Near the coast, the surfeit of water carved new channels from the record discharge rate. Beach erosion occurred along the coastline, resulting in some property damage on beach houses. A banding eye developed, and Georges reached major hurricane strength on September 19 while 675mi (1085km) east-southeast of Guadeloupe. They then sent three airplane flights to deliver body bags, plastic sheeting, five-gallon water jugs, water bladders and chainsaws. the rainfall left by Hurricane George. [1], In Antigua, strong winds caused severe property damage, mostly caused to roofs. codes, mitigation policy, city planning, and hazard mapping. of plastic sheeting, 4 water bladders, and 502 water jugs to Antigua. the supply of electricity and availability of phone services throughout A young man rides his bicycle at the seaside in Nagua, Dominican Republic, on September 19, 2022, as Hurricane Fiona passes through the country. Throughout the mainland areas of the United States, Georges left approximately $2.5billion in damage. relief interventions or disaster mitigation activities may be funded in [8] Due to lack of law enforcement, those who stayed in Key West went through red lights, double-parked, and disobeyed traffic laws. From September 25-26, BHR/OFDA delivered 410 Many schools, businesses, hospitals, and government buildings lost their roofs, while the airport experienced severe damage to its main terminal and control tower, limiting flights to the daytime. After a severe drought in 1997, extreme rainfall damaged around 470,000 acres (1,900km2) of food crops. Peace The extreme flooding caused great losses in the poultry industry, an important economy in the area. After a severe drought in 1997, Georges's severe flooding stopped any chances of recovering quickly. Official estimates indicate that total damage to the The hurricane did serious damage to the infrastructure of the country: Homes, roads, bridges, dams, and airports were destroyed or were seriously damaged. the country. The tourist industry in St. Kitts is also This figure includes loss of crops, poultry, [30] Georges's deluge of rainfall caused significant damage to the agricultural industry, including the loss of 75% of its coffee crop, 95% of its banana or plantain crop, and 65% of its live poultry. Having pre-positioned personnel in Barbados Authorities reported two deaths from the hurricane a Puerto Rican man who was swept away by a flooded river and a person in the Dominican Republic who was hit by a falling tree. Flooding shut down many bridges, highways, and secondary roads in Baldwin and Escambia counties, including Interstate 10 near the AlabamaFlorida state line; U.S. Route 29 and Alabama State Route 113 in Flomaton; and US 31 in Brewton and Flomaton. Safety, Connect [1] Over 22,000people were sheltered in 139shelters in cities throughout the island. [4][5], Due to initial forecasts of the hurricane brushing the northern portion of the country, the Dominican Republic was caught off guard. Cloudy with gusty winds. Georges produced $1 billion of damage to the island and killed over 380 people. Homes were flooded and people were forced to evacuate days after the storm had passed. and Barbuda. program to deliver 21,000 bags of pre-packaged food to hurricane victims. All of Florida Keys were left without power. Georges's waves overturned two boats in Key West,[8] damaged 1,536houses, and destroyed 173homes, many of which were mobile homes. by Hurricane Georges. The heavy rainfall contributed to significant river overflowing, including the Tchoutacabouffa River at D'Iberville, which set a record crest of 19ft (5.7m). of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. total damage equals $445 million. In Miami, over 200,000 had no power due to winds knocking down power lines. International nongovernmental organizations were also coming in to help. The coffee and cocoa plantations also suffered from the hurricane, further damaging the country's food supply. In addition, approximately 100% of the road network and The capital city of Port-au-Prince was largely unharmed, with the exception of flooding in low-lying coastal areas, damaging the main commercial port. south and west. See the latest Dominican Republic Doppler radar weather map including areas of rain, snow and ice. The Dominican Republic had to import significant amounts of rice and other crops to compensate for the losses. BHR/OFDA assistance to date is provided below. In Mississippi, rainfall as high as 25 inches was recorded. The storm made landfall three days later near Biloxi, Mississippi with winds of 105mph (169km/h). The hard task of aiding the thousands who lost their homes and all their belongings is one of the most difficult. Ambassador's disaster In Georgia, damage was minor. The Met office in Desirade, east of Guadeloupe had a 75 miles per hour (121km/h) wind and a 89 miles per hour (143km/h) sustained gust. [1], In the Dominican Republic, Georges brought strong winds and very heavy rains, along with a 7-foot (2m) storm surge. On September16, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georges, and to Hurricane Georges the next day. Following are some web links to help you monitor the latest weather conditions: However, most of them were prepared to leave if the situation became worse. buildings. [15] One Chargee d'Affaires declared the island as a disaster area. The most destructive storms hit in 1998 with Hurricane George and in 1979 with Tropical Storm Federico, resulting in economic losses equivalent to 16.1% and 18.4%of GDP respectively. The first component of the project was to quickly disperse $60 million for necessary items of recovery such as medicine, housing materials and chemical products. Six women and children were killed when a youth hostel fell into the Ozama River, which was overswelling. In Puerto Rico, the storm was the first to pass the island since the 1932 San Ciprin hurricane. to the agricultural sector. [1] In the country, 100,000 were left homeless due to Hurricane Georges. assessment teams assisted in off-loading relief supplies, coordinated the [37], Death toll reports were slow in the wake of the storm, but a total of 380people died from Hurricane Georges and leaving more than 185,000 homeless. The extent of damage throughout Hurricane Fiona was expected to bring life-threatening flash and urban flooding to parts of the Dominican Republic after making landfall near Boca de Yuma at 3:30 a.m. AST, the U.S. National . Early on the following day, a tropical storm warning was issued for Saint Lucia and Martinique. Due to no fully developed water systems being present, 75% water and sewage services had been lost. [1][31] The hurricane spawned two F2 tornadoes on the island, though they caused little damage. Au Prince, Cap-Haitien, and Leogane; and 2) aerial survey of the most affected [15] More plastic sheeting was sent on September 27 by a United States Military aircraft. People who sold sausage and people who had milk companies donated food. Substantial amounts of tobacco and sugar plantations were severely damaged. 3, Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update, "Puerto Rico Tallies up Devastation from Hurricane Maria", "Impact situation report #2 Hurricane Georges", "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary", "Caribbean: Hurricane Georges OFDA-09: Fact Sheet #9", "United States Virgin Islands Event Report: Hurricane", "Georges Pummels Caribbean, Florida Keys, and U.S. Gulf Coast", "FEMA News Photo taken on 09/24/1998 in US Virgin Islands", "Hurricane Georges Preliminary Storm Report", "Hurricane Georges hits Puerto Rico and moves on", "Hurricane Georges September 19 October 1, 1998", "Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges Puerto Rico, September 1998", "Updates from the Islands: Georges Dominican Republic", Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, "Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Haiti Hurricane Georges Fact Sheet #2", "Hurricane "Georges" Causes Extensive Crop Damage in Caribbean Countries", Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, "Hurricane Georges and the Dominican Republic", "The Impact of Hurricane Georges on the area of Belle-Anse, Haiti", "Impact Situation Report Hurricane Georges Republic of Haiti", "Eastern Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Haiti Hurricane Georges Fact Sheet #9, Fiscal Year (FY) 1999", "Hurricane Georges Public Advisory Number 35", Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, "Cuba: 4 dead; thousands left without homes", "Gulf Coast damage estimates trickle in for Georges", Hurricane Earl and Hurricane Georges Beach and Dune Erosion and Structural Damage Assessment and Post-storm Recovery Plan for the Panhandle Coast of Florida, "Residents near rivers start cleaning up soggy homes", "Panhandle totals damages as region begins to dry out", "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena", "Flood Observations: Damages and Successes", "Life goes on in the wake of Hurricane Georges", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, HPC Georges Rainfall Report for the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hurricane_Georges&oldid=1141246028, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 02:49. The BDR/OFDA obligated another $260,000 for a set of 100 500-gallon water tanks, 10 generators to power municipal water pumps, and many seeds to replant the country's agricultural system. It brought 70mph (110km/h) winds to Turks and Caicos Islands and South Andros, as well as precipitation in the storm's outer bands. Volunteers Do, Volunteer People came to us and said they had lost their town, they had lost their way of life, they had lost their way of living. Tracking westward, the wave spawned an area of low pressure two days later, which quickly strengthened into a tropical depression. Of those in the evacuation area, 60% actually left. Most of the people who died in the storm were poor. All shelters experienced power outages, and after the storm passed through, lack of water and sewer systems became a serious problem. Two men collapsed and died due to medical conditions aggravated by the stress of the evacuation; the other death occurred as the result of a house fire ignited by an emergency candle that was tipped over. 25 for the delivery of relief supplies to Antigua and the forward shipment The National Hurricane Center said Monday evening that "heavy rains" from Fiona would continue to fall over Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic throughout the night. Note: Future Hurricane Georges fact It continued to the west-northwest, and struck Key West later on September 25 with winds of 105mph (165km/h). 120mph (190km/h) winds downed and uprooted trees across much of the country, littering streets with debris and mud. and USAID Missions in both countries will work closely with the task force in food aid assistance and relief supplies to hurricane victims in Haiti. They asked: Could you help us? In the United States, damage was widespread across multiple states. [1], In Georgia, the remnants of Georges dropped 4in (100mm) of rain across Franklin County. For the following two days, the island was placed under a state of high-alert as direct impact from a Category 4 hurricane was anticipated. In response, BHR/OFDA Fiona, which is the Atlantic hurricane season's sixth named storm, was predicted to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain in eastern and southern Puerto Rico, with as much as 20 inches in isolated spots. There were no fatalities in the islands and one minor injury was reported. Extensive storm surge flooding also occurred along Mobile Bay. Floridians who evacuated typically left for a friend or relative's house, and only went to another area of their county. The sugarcane crop fared badly as well, limiting one of the country's important export crops. Two deaths occurred due to carbon monoxide poisoning from operating a gasoline-powered generator indoors, This forced for the mandatory evacuations of Alabama's two coastal counties, Baldwin and Mobile Counties, with a combined population of over 500,000people. metric tons of wheat, and $12 million for the promotion of economic ties Because of this, portions of the state were evacuated, including New Orleans. [37], Upon making landfall, Hurricane Georges produced torrential rainfall, amounting to a maximum of 24.41inches (620mm) at Limonar in the province of Guantnamo. [66] Stewart County, received over 5 inches (130mm) of rain which caused extensive flooding that left several roads impassable. [8], Georges produced a storm surge of up to 10ft (3m) in the Florida Panhandle. The Dominican Republic hurricane season is typically from June through November, bringing high winds, flooding, landslides, and property damage to the island. that are being conducted by the respective U.S. Embassies. With a Recruiter, Global Upon making landfall, storm surge heights along the coast of Alabama were estimated to have ranged from 7 to 12ft (2.1 to 3.7m), with a peak of 11.9ft (3.6m) in Fort Morgan, along with 25ft (7.6m) waves on top of it. Vicios y virtudes tras 20 aos del huracn Georges en Repblica Dominicana, The Impact of Hurricane Strikes on Short-Term Local Economic Activity: Evidence from Nightlight Images in the Dominican Republic, Disasters in the Americas: the Case for Legal Preparedness, Analysis of Multiple Natural hazards in Haiti (NATHAT). 17 tornadoes were confirmed throughout the state. purification supplies. An unofficial wind observation from Antigua reported winds at 94mph with gusts to 116mph. Despite being a popular holiday destination, the Dominican Republic is a country steeped in poverty - major advances in the tourism industry have only added further to the divide between the rich and poor. [48], Like in Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, the severe drought during the El Nio of 1997 exacerbated the flood's disruption to crops in eastern Cuba. The people I talked with in the shelter said they had less than a minute to run out of their houses before the homes were destroyed by the mudflows pouring down the mountain. In addition, Instead, like in Puerto Rico, Georges traversed the entire country, and passed close to Santo Domingo. The Dominican Secretary of Agriculture The maximal rainfall was up to 6.7inches (170mm) in the mountainous area. assessment conducted by the St. Kitts National Emergency Management Agency, health needs of hurricane victims in both island nations. The assessment Hurricane Georges had just recently reached Category 3-status when it made landfall on the island and became the worst storm to affect the island since Hurricane David made a direct landfall in 1979. of BHR/OFDA plastic sheeting were delivered to Santo Domingo on September [37] Total agricultural losses amounted to $179million (1998USD, $250million 2009USD). St. Kitts' economy was disrupted from severe agricultural losses, including the devastation of 50% of their sugar crop. In the two months after Georges's final landfall, the American Red Cross spent $104million on relief aid through Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, making Georges the costliest disaster aid in the program's 125-year history. Georges strengthened to a hurricane on September 17th and reached Category 4 intensity on September 19th. Georges's circulation developed strong banding features around a well-organized Central Dense Overcast, and with the aid of a developing anti-cyclone, Georges attained hurricane status late on September 17. for a two week duration. [54] The strongest tornado, rated F2 on the Fujita scale, touched-down in Suwannee County near Live Oak, destroying 1mobile home,[55] 7homes,[56] and 12cars,[55] while 5other structures suffered damage. 20 tornadoes touched down, with one causing over $1.5 million. Lack of electricity resulted in damage to water facilities, as well. The local Afro-Caribbean culture is unique in this part . This figure includes crop and livestock loss and damage Authorities reported two deaths from the hurricane a Puerto Rican man who was swept away by a flooded river and a person in the Dominican Republic who was hit by a falling tree. [1] The civil defense, national emergency response team, the Red Cross, police, firefighters and the Health Ministry were dispatched for Hurricane Georges preparations. It is averaged that we get a direct hit once every 22.66 years. Members of the Cuban government travelled door-to-door to alert everyone of the hurricane. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. away by flood waters and mudslides. On September 22, 1998, Hurricane Georges hit the Dominican Republic. Isolated tornadoes were also predicted on September 22. Juan Salas . the purchase of 100 plastic 500-gallon water tanks, 10 generators to power In the Greater Antilles, hundreds of deaths were confirmed, along with over $2.4billion in damages. [22], Damage in St. Kitts totaled EC$1.2billion (US$458million). The supplies sent by BHR/OFDA were controlled by the Dominican Red Cross. This left tens of thousands homeless after the storm's passage. Public expenditure during Tropical Storms Noel and Olga in 2007 was around 0.6% of GDP and reached 1.6% of GDP during 2004's Hurricane Jeanne. Some of the islands' homes had roofs blown off. power system is $1.2 billion, and that service will not return to full (AP Photo 'Slephan Savoia) lurricane Georges (pronounced "Zhorzh"), battered the Lesser |Antilles, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and the Florida Keys from September 18 through 25, 1998, before slamming into the Gulf Coast areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the panhandle [43] In all, 209people died in Haiti. Well-defined upper-level outflow allowed the hurricane to remain well organized, and while paralleling the northern coastline of the island Georges retained minimal hurricane status. [11] Despite the order, only 67% of the area actually left to a safer place. In addition, squall lines spawned multiple tornadoes, damaging evacuation shelters in Pascagoula and Gautier. a USG inter-agency task force has been established to address reconstruction In the Florida Keys, Georges brought a storm surge of up to 12ft (3.6m) in Tavernier. The U.S. Army also brought about one million blocks of ice and one million gallons of water, in order to compensate the effects of the loss of 95% of power across the island. And for a period of time, we managed 16 of the shelters. Some parts of the country - especially in eastern provinces such as Altagracia - are still recovering from the devastation left behind by hurricane Fiona, which damaged hotels and countless other properties in late September. In the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, damage was extensive, especially in the latter. The lifestyle of many Puerto Ricans was also forced to change, as many of their farms were left damaged beyond repair. [8] A Dominican economist, Felix Calvo estimated that the storm did about $6 billion (1998 USD) in damage to the island. Dominican Tourism Association, only 5-10% of the country's tourism facilities [16] The BDR/OFDA's assistance in the Dominican Republic ended on October 8, 1998, with control being taken over by the USG Corporation. The hurricane slammed the Dominican Republic community of Boca de Yuma early Monday, whipping maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. By September25, Georges entered the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. There were many reports of eroded soil in areas where construction was in progress. BHR/OFDA Assistance to the Dominican Republic: $2,061,817 Though damage was minimal, one person died in the country.[1]. The extreme flooding caused great losses in the poultry industry, an important economy in the area. The Dominican Republic was slammed on Monday by "extremely heavy rainfall" and winds as strong as 145km per hour (95mph), Eric Blake of the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. We sent two containers full with clothing, food and school supplies for the victims and we rebuilt the houses of . Director As the storm progressed across the islands, the warnings were gradually canceled, until the Government of Cuba discontinued a hurricane watch at 03:00UTC on September26. sales will be used to advance the U.S. Embassy's long-term recovery plan.

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