The worst tragedy brought by the hurricane occurred hours after the storm had passed. They resulted from the flooding in the area of Mesopotamia, in the southwestern province of San Juan de la Maguana. According to the Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidraulicos, the government department in charge of dams, the destruction of this area could only have been avoided if this area were not inhabited. The INDHRI reports that the residents of the area, a population of 12,000, were warned 72 hours by radio and television by the Governor of the province, Juan de Dios Ogando and by government officials. The INDHRI used 52 pick ups, 40 trucks and other vehicles of volunteers and 300 employees that helped the firemen, the Civil Defense, the National Army and the Police. Most of the persons evacuated the area, those that stayed were the heads of families that stayed to guard their belongings. The Sabaneta Dam overflows naturally, and the passage of water through the dam when it is full cannot be stopped. INDHRI said that the flooding would have been worse if the dam were not there.
