
The government has called on the population to take all measures to avoid risks to life given the imminent passing of Hurricane Irma on the early morning of Thursday, 7 September 2017. Given that the US National Hurricane Center has issued a statement saying that any place touched by Irma would suffer “catastrophic damage,” it is important to note the grave threat of the storm.
In the Dominican Republic, the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has placed the entire country under alerts, with 17 provinces under red alert. These are La Altagracia (Punta Cana and Higuey), El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Samaná, Espaillat (Moca), María Trinidad Sánchez (Nagua), Puerto Plata and Montecristi. On Tuesday, the COE also added La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Santo Domingo and the National District, San Cristóbal, Peravia, Azua, Barahona and Pedernales. Most likely, the southern areas were added due to flooding caused by intense rains.
Yellow alert has been issued for the provinces of Dajabón, Santiago Rodríguez, Monte Plata, La Vega, Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís), Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí), Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), San José de Ocoa; Monseñor Nouel (Bonao) and San Juan de la Maguana.
Green alert is in place for the provinces of Elias Piña, Independencia and Bahoruco.
The COE director, General Juan Manuel Mendez called on the population to be alert and to strictly follow the bulletins issued by the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), the agency authorized to report on the course of this hurricane, and to the press releases from the National Water Resources Institute (INDRHI) that manages country dams. Mendez calls on the people to ignore any reports that are not issued by authorized agencies.
With all eyes on Irma, named the strongest Atlantic Hurricane in NHC records, Tropical Storm José is formed much along the same path. The storm is expected to reach hurricane strength as early as Thursday, 7 September 2017. It will bring intense winds and rains to many of the same territories already battered by Irma.
http://www.coe.gob.do/index.php/noticias/item/232-coe-incrementa-el-numero-de-provincias-en-alerta-roja
The best advice for those in the Dominican Republic is to follow the storm as it passes by Puerto Rico. What happens in Puerto Rico is expected to be replicated here as the storm is expected to pass at a similar distance from the local shores.
The DR1 Forums weather forecaster is located in Punta Cana. To follow the storm from a Dominican perspective, see the latest posts at DR1 Forums
6 September 2017