Dominican Republic: Hurricane Maria off northern coast Sep. 21 /update 2

Event

As of 08:00 (local time) on Thursday, September 21, Hurricane Maria was located off the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, approximately 95 km (60 mi) northeast of Las Galeras (Samaná province). According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Maria, now a category 3 storm (scale of 1 to 5), is expected to pass along the northern coast of the country throughout the day Thursday.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for the coastline between Cabo Engaño and Puerto Plata. Lower tropical storm warnings are in effect between Puerto Plata and the Haitian border as well as between Cabo Engaño and Punta Palenque. The storm is forecast to bring an additional 5-10 cm (2-4 in) of rain to the north and east through Saturday, as well as storm surges of 1-2 m (4-6 feet) to the eastern parts of the country. Flooding and mudslides are likely, along with wind damage. The Dominican Republican government has placed 19 of the country’s 32 provinces on red alert (the highest level); five others are on “yellow” alert.

Power outages, water cuts, telecommunication issues, and transportation disruptions are to be anticipated during and following the hurricane’s passage. As of Thursday morning, Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is closed and is not expected to reopen until at least midday. Three other airports, located in La Romana (LRM), Arroyo Barril (EPS), and Samaná (AZS), have also been closed. Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) airport remains open.

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.

Much of the Caribbean region is still recovering from Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm that struck the region the week of September 6-10. Irma caused mass destruction to widespread areas, including Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, Saint Barthélemy, Cuba, and the Florida Keys.

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.