24 Sep 2017 | 12:02 PM UTC
Dominican Republic: Hurricane Maria moves away from country /update 3
Hurricane Maria moving away from Dominican Republic’s northern coast September 22 but threats remain; adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities
Event
As of 05:00 (local time) on Friday, September 22, Hurricane Maria - now a Category 3 storm - was located approximately 200 km (120 mi) north of Puerto Plata and moving north away from the country. However, conditions remain dangerous on the ground due to continued heavy rains and winds. As of 05:00, hurricane warnings issued by the National Hurricane Center remained in effect for the northern coastline between Cabo Engaño and Puerto Plata and a tropical storm warning remains in place for the coastline between Puerto Plata and the Haitian border. Furthermore, the Dominican Republican government has placed 26 of the country’s 32 departments on “red” alert - the highest level. Conditions are expected to improve throughout the morning.
At this early stage it remains unclear how much damage the Dominican Republic has sustained. Infrastructural issues (blackouts, water cuts, telecommunication outages), transportation disruptions, and business/store closures are possible in the coming hours and days. Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) and La Romana Airport (LRM) have reopened and Arroyo Barril (EPS) airport is expected to reopen at 06:30 on Friday. Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) remains operational.
Context
Storms are common in the region during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which officially runs from June 1 to November 30, with a peak of storm activity typically observed in late August and September.
Advice
Individuals present in the Dominican Republic are advised to keep abreast of weather alerts, confirm travel reservations, avoid coastal and mountainous areas (risk of flooding and landslides), and adhere to all advice issued by the local authorities.
In the event of flooding, remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.
