Hurricane Frances is tearing across the Bahamas today and expected to arrive at Florida’s Gold Coast tomorrow. As she edged along the DR’s North Coast yesterday, Frances left some rain, but not the amount that was predicted. Reports of damage were few, although six shacks located on the beach in La Playita, near the town of Nagua, were destroyed by wave action. The six families affected were able to find refuge with family and friends. In Nagua, the provincial head of Civil Defense, Minerva Santos, and the province’s governor, Luis Cosme, told reporters that a red alert is still in effect for the coastline of that area and waves reaching eight feet continue to be observed along the beaches. The Civil Defense official told reporters that 53 families were voluntarily evacuated from their homes, but no widespread destruction was noted. In Puerto Plata, various households were evacuated from Playa Oeste due to dangerous wave patterns. Residences in the barrios of Aguas Negras and El Javillar were slightly affected by strong winds, according to the Red Cross chief, Sonia Hurtado.