If you are a tourist visiting or planning to visit the DR, note that the possibility of your getting stuck in a hurricane is very slim. This is illustrated by the fact that in the past 20 years only two hurricanes have hit the DR — David (Category 4) in August 31, 1979 and Georges (Category 3) in September 21, 1998. If the DR is in your travel plans, visit the site or subscribe to the Daily News (Daily News link at www.dr1.com) to be kept up to date with any storm developments. We follow these closely, releasing updated reports and offering links to sites that allow you, too, to track these. Note that in the unlikely case that you are in the DR during a hurricane, you will be in for an experience of a lifetime. Anyone can be in the Caribbean for a beautiful sun-filled vacation. But only a few will experience the unforgettable spectacle of the full blast of nature. Dominican hotels are well prepared for hurricanes, especially since the trial of Hurricane Georges in 1998. If a hurricane hit is imminent, you will be asked to stay in a reserved area or in your rooms until it passes, usually less than six hours, with 2-3 hours of intense winds and rains. At most, you may be relocated or your flight may be delayed for a few days. The big problem with a hurricane is not the storm, it is the clean up. If you are a tourist, that problem is not yours. More so, the worst damage caused by hurricanes occurs due to flooding, and may occur hours after the hurricane has passed. Note that with the exception of the hotels in La Vega and Santiago, tourist hotels in the DR are located along the coastline and thus are not in danger of flooding that is usually caused by rivers. If you are a resident in the DR, you will probably know by now, after experiencing Hurricane Georges, which are the vulnerable areas of your residence. Now is the time to double-check your shutters, doors and general preparedness.
