Samana was hard hit as Hurricane Fiona hugged the northeastern coastline before exiting the Dominican Republic. Trees still clog up many roads and power lines are downed, with Internet connections affected. Crews are at work to restore communication in the province.
The Civil Defense of Samaná told Listin Diario that after the passing of the storm on Monday, 19 September 2022 in the afternoon, 47 people sought refuge in shelters and may have to stay for several days before their houses were seriously affected.
According to the list of the Civil Defense several public schools were turned into shelters for those affected by the storm. These are the El Caimito School with 10, Escuela Básica Leopoldo Coplin with five, El francés, four; Escuela Básica La Lometa about 32 and the Andrea de Pena School with three people.
Farming in the area was devasted. Early reports are that 80% of the crops were lost.
Francisco Alvarez, director for Civil Defense in Las Terrenas, the Samana beach town, reported that more than 60 houses are now without roofs in Las Terrenas, dozens were said to be affected in El Limón, to the east. On the far eastern side of Samana, in Loma Atravesada (Las Galeras) the details on those affected is not known because of the lack of road and internet communication.
Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ignacio Paliza was in Samana on Tuesday, 20 September 2022 to survey damages due to Hurricane Fiona and among the funds to be made available are those for the repairs at the La Churcha, the 198-year old Iglesia Evangelica Dominicana Saint Peter Church in the city of Samana.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
El Nuevo Diario
21 September 2022