Tropical Storm Noel

[Rocky]

Where's Chris ???

Chris....
Can you explain to us what the heck is going on with this storm, that it appears to have stalled on top of us, and if so, any idea when the wench is leaving us?

PS: All's well in the Sosua area.
Overcast skies, nothing more for now.

 

[Kateinyork]

Still raining very hard here. No school again...

The BBC put the DR locations in their article as "east of the capital" referring to Ocoa, San Cristobal and Bani. I sent them a message yesterday saying these places were all south/south west of the capital but I guess they can't be arsed.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Torrential rains lash east Cuba

.

That was exactly my point - they really don't seem to give a **** - and I think its awful, why aren't the media here (UK) reporting this?? What are reports like in other countries around the world - is it just the UK media that are crap?

 

[Chirimoya]

I know their stringer - his main job is correspondent for Le Monde, he has lived here for yonks and should know better, but I guess it's some minion in HQ getting it wrong and no one bothering to double check.
Just had a message from BBC News 24 - they're going to use a couple of Pedro's photos!

 

[Bryanell]

MATILDA: There are reports of a grounded ship off SPM. A ship said to contain a cargo of Propane gas (LPG)...Any news on that??HB

The ship on the beach at Juan Dolio is a 23000ton LPG tanker that was discharging LPG at the offshore terminal. As a result of the storm she broke loose early Monday morning and grounded on the rock about 50 yards from the shore. Surveyors and salvage teams on behalf of the shipowners and their insurers have been on site since early Monday morning but the still heavy seas have prevented any practical progress in refloating the ship so far.
As usual with this kind of maritime casualty I shall try to post updates as regularly as I can.

The storm tossed around a few ships in the port of San Pedro with some light to medium damages to the ships and to the piers but nothing too serious.

In the meantime we have a situation in the heart of Santo Domingo at the floating bridge over the Ozama where some ships that were moored up river broke free due to the extremely strong current on the river and drifted down almost coming to rest on the floating bridge. Since yeatersay morning work has been going on to secure the ships and prevent damage to the bridgae which is in the meantime closed to traffic.

More on that later too.

Bryan

 

[Rocky]

CNN just covered Noel in the DR, showing helicopter rescues and video clips that look every bit as bad as we saw in New Orleans after Katrina.
They're tossing out numbers of 100k plus people made homeless by the storm.
This is much worse than anyone could have anticipated.
A lot of people are going to be needing our help.

Are there any of our DR1 brothers or sisters in need of help and too shy to ask?

 

[Kateinyork]

CNN just covered Noel in the DR, showing helicopter rescues and video clips that look every bit as bad as we saw in New Orleans after Katrina.
They're tossing out numbers of 100k plus people made homeless by the storm.
This is much worse than anyone could have anticipated.
A lot of people are going to be needing our help.

Are there any of our DR1 brothers or sisters in need of help and too shy to ask?

Definitely, if hubby's family are all ok and they can help in any way then let me know as I know they would be more than happy to help if needed. Also, if there's anything we can do from the UK then please ask.

 

[Dolores1]

The problems are similar. Hundreds of thousands of people have moven into vulnerable areas -- where land was cheap or for the taking by the poor. While the weather was good -- the usual -- no problem. Now, the waters have retaken their paths and there is much flooding.

The continuous rain has made difficult sending help to the needy.

 

[Dolores1]

Reports I have been receiving show that the eastern side of the country has been more or less spared from the very heavy downpours we have received on the central and western parts of the country. Just spoke to a friend in La Romana and he says they have had it easy.

That would coincide with this frame that shows where the concentration of the waters has been.

Carib WX - Caribbean Weather Information

 

[Kateinyork]

The problems are similar. Hundreds of thousands of people have moven into vulnerable areas -- where land was cheap or for the taking by the poor. While the weather was good -- the usual -- no problem. Now, the waters have retaken their paths and there is much flooding.

The continuous rain has made difficult sending help to the needy.

Any more news from the concierge of your building? - you said he lives over near where my husbands family are, just wondering if he knows anymore?

Thanks
Kate

 

[Chirimoya]

I don't know if that many people have made it into work - this morning it's been raining much harder than yesterday. Our condo employees haven't turned up.
I wonder if anyone actually tried taking their children to school this morning.

 

[Dolores1]

School was cancelled until Friday.

 

[ajewellmom]

Suggestions?

I am travelling to Bahia Principe San Juan in December with my daughters. I know this is rather premature, but I would be grateful to find out what, if anything, I can bring with me to help those who have suffered in this tragedy.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.

 

[MikeFisher]

Reports I have been receiving show that the eastern side of the country has been more or less spared from the very heavy downpours we have received on the central and western parts of the country. Just spoke to a friend in La Romana and he says they have had it easy.

That would coincide with this frame that shows where the concentration of the waters has been.

Carib WX - Caribbean Weather Information

the map is correct Dolores,
that water volume pured down here in the PC area permanently during around 30hrs of heavy rain and stormy winds.
but as a difference to the southwestern regions where they got hit harder, here on the east isn't much to damage, no wooden huts, no inestable buildings, no mountains where a floodslide can happen.
we had a lot of water on the streets during sunday of course, but nothing of that caused damage, we've been fine on monday and dry yesterday, today the sun is out, i hope the sunny side will reach your southwestern area by tomorrow, too.
cheers from the east
Mike

 

[PCV mom]

Has anyone heard how things are in Batey 6? Last I heard the water was head high in my daughters house. She evacuated but most of the batey did not. Any news would be great.
Worried, PCV Mom

 

[Lambada]

This isn't good news - they are now worried about the dams of Sabana Yegua and Hatillo.
http://www.elcaribecdn.com/articulo_multimedios.aspx?id=142661&guid=4A94AECDB9A04DFAA9FEF22268CC45E9&Seccion=63

 

[bigbird]

In the meantime we have a situation in the heart of Santo Domingo at the floating bridge over the Ozama where some ships that were moored up river broke free due to the extremely strong current on the river and drifted down almost coming to rest on the floating bridge. Since yeatersay morning work has been going on to secure the ships and prevent damage to the bridgae which is in the meantime closed to traffic.

More on that later too.

Bryan

Please keep us posted on the floating bridge. What is the best alternative route in and out of Ciudad Centro?

 

[Kateinyork]

Does anybody know the latest on Barrio Duarte in the Herrera area? - My husbands parents live there and we've not managed to get hold of them since Monday night. Any news would be much appreciated, thanks.

 

[Chirimoya]

Please keep us posted on the floating bridge. What is the best alternative route in and out of Ciudad Centro?

27 de Febrero and across the bridge.

 

[windrifter]

hi, my girlfriend and her husband have family in Sabaneta de Yasica, papers say that there is a lot of flooding .. They also own a nice house and several other properties and a small store located riverside just on the outskirts of town that they just finished renovating. Any info. would be appreciated especially about conditions in town itself as that's where her sister and family live.
Elizabeth

 

[Hillbilly]

Not all that much rain on the north shore.
They should come out okay.
In Santiago, there is a steady cool breeze from the east, no rain, for once. Sun peeked out for a tiny bit.
Banks closed at noon???
Perhaps a little too weary with the new front coming through.

IF the CNN reports are even close to accurate, this is a serious smack in the face for the "authorities" --such as they might be-- since they are only talking about 1/4 that number.(25,000 displaced)....typical government spin on everything.

One of the threads of last night?s news was the fact that no government assistance has been seen at most of the sites.

Like I said on Monday, this will get a lot worse and a lot uglier.

HB