NewsWhore
08-04-2011, 12:40 PM
Tropical Storm Emily kept to a western track and the closest it came to the Dominican Republic was 40kms SSW of Isla Beata off Barahona on the southwestern coast.
The good news is that Emily did not touch land in the Dominican Republic, and the heavy rainstorms that were forecast did not materialize. High surf and large waves were seen at the shoreline. For the most part, for Dominicans it was the storm that was not. Most areas are getting a gentle drizzle of rain. Wind gusts were scant from Punta Cana to Barahona, as reported on the DR1 Forums by people residing in those areas.
Nevertheless, in the early morning a tropical storm warning was still in effect for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano in the east, due to the continuing rains that were forecast.
The Emergency Operations Center reported that it had evacuated 1,647 people from their homes, 1,005 of who left to stay with relatives and friends and 642 were sent to government shelters, in the provinces of Monte Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, San Cristobal and Barahona.
COE director General Juan Manuel Mendez said that if Emily continues on her present path, she would not affect the country. He did say, however, that people living in vulnerable areas should maintain their preventive measures.
Mendez said that red alerts remain in place for the provinces of San Juan, Barahona, San Cristobal, Azua, Pedernales, Peravia, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, National District, San Jose de Ocoa, Independencia, Bahoruco, Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), La Altagracia (Higuey), La Romana, Monte Plata, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Monsenor Nouel (Bonao), La Vega, Santiago, Dajabon, El Seibo, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua), Espaillat (Moca) and Elias Pina. Yellow alerts are maintained for Valverde (Mao), Puerto Plata, Samana, Santiago Rodriguez, Hato Mayor and Monte Cristi provinces.
Regardless, Dominicans prepared for the storm, which has served as a drill to prepare for other storms that are expected. The only hurricane to hit the DR in August in the last 100 years was David on 31 August 1979, so the early storm took Dominicans by surprise.
Yesterday, many businesses sent employees home at noon with instructions to take Thursday off so that they would not be caught in the rain. The Santo Domingo metro line operated until 2pm. Universities also called off classes for Thursday. American Airlines suspended flights from Puerto Rico and Port-au-Prince, Miami, and some JetBlue flights were affected today. The Dave Valentin concert at the National Theater was postponed, as well as the inaugural activities for the Fodatur tourism conference that continues in Santo Domingo today at the Dominican Fiesta.
National Hurricane Center forecasters have had difficulties making accurate predictions for TS Emily. In the 11am report, the forecast is still that the storm will take a northwest turn to take its storm center between Haiti and Cuba within the next 12-24 hours.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
The good news is that Emily did not touch land in the Dominican Republic, and the heavy rainstorms that were forecast did not materialize. High surf and large waves were seen at the shoreline. For the most part, for Dominicans it was the storm that was not. Most areas are getting a gentle drizzle of rain. Wind gusts were scant from Punta Cana to Barahona, as reported on the DR1 Forums by people residing in those areas.
Nevertheless, in the early morning a tropical storm warning was still in effect for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano in the east, due to the continuing rains that were forecast.
The Emergency Operations Center reported that it had evacuated 1,647 people from their homes, 1,005 of who left to stay with relatives and friends and 642 were sent to government shelters, in the provinces of Monte Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, San Cristobal and Barahona.
COE director General Juan Manuel Mendez said that if Emily continues on her present path, she would not affect the country. He did say, however, that people living in vulnerable areas should maintain their preventive measures.
Mendez said that red alerts remain in place for the provinces of San Juan, Barahona, San Cristobal, Azua, Pedernales, Peravia, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, National District, San Jose de Ocoa, Independencia, Bahoruco, Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), La Altagracia (Higuey), La Romana, Monte Plata, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Monsenor Nouel (Bonao), La Vega, Santiago, Dajabon, El Seibo, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua), Espaillat (Moca) and Elias Pina. Yellow alerts are maintained for Valverde (Mao), Puerto Plata, Samana, Santiago Rodriguez, Hato Mayor and Monte Cristi provinces.
Regardless, Dominicans prepared for the storm, which has served as a drill to prepare for other storms that are expected. The only hurricane to hit the DR in August in the last 100 years was David on 31 August 1979, so the early storm took Dominicans by surprise.
Yesterday, many businesses sent employees home at noon with instructions to take Thursday off so that they would not be caught in the rain. The Santo Domingo metro line operated until 2pm. Universities also called off classes for Thursday. American Airlines suspended flights from Puerto Rico and Port-au-Prince, Miami, and some JetBlue flights were affected today. The Dave Valentin concert at the National Theater was postponed, as well as the inaugural activities for the Fodatur tourism conference that continues in Santo Domingo today at the Dominican Fiesta.
National Hurricane Center forecasters have had difficulties making accurate predictions for TS Emily. In the 11am report, the forecast is still that the storm will take a northwest turn to take its storm center between Haiti and Cuba within the next 12-24 hours.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)