This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in the Dominican Republic that the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
www.nhc.noaa.gov is reporting that a Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic from Puerto Plata westward to Bahia De Manzanillo. A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince. A Tropical Storm Warning means that Tropical Storm conditions are expected within the warning area that could extend outward up to 230 miles within the next 24 hours. Tropical Storm Hanna could regain hurricane intensity by Thursday as it moves away from the Dominican Republic to the northwest. NOAA reports that totals of 6 to 10 inches of rainfall with isolated maximum amounts of up to 15 inches are possible over Hispaniola with Tropical Storm Hanna.
The Dominican National Office of Meteorology (ONAMET) has issued an advisory warning of life-threatening mudslides and flash flooding due to already rain-soaked terrain and the massive amounts of rainfall expected. Persons living near rivers, canyons, and ravines should take extra precautions. ONAMET has also received reports of wind gusts of up to 45 mph near Santo Domingo’s Las Americas airport in Punta Caucedo and in Punta Cana and Constanza.
Travel within the Dominican Republic and throughout the Caribbean will be difficult for the next several days. The Embassy’s Regional Security Office has reported street flooding in several areas of Santo Domingo. Flooding can also be expected throughout other affected parts of the country. Extreme caution should be taken when driving through areas of high water. There is also the possibility of road and bridge closures due to rising water and bridge washouts. Currently, all airports are open and operating normally within the Dominican Republic although there have been reports of flight delays and flight diversions to Puerto Rico.
The Department of State has also issued a Travel Warning for The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands due to the threat posed by Tropical Storm Hanna and Tropical Storm Ike: http://intranet.ca.state.gov/ALDACS/8158210.html This Travel Warning was issued to urge U.S. citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, which are expected to take the brunt of Tropical Storm Hanna and Tropical Storm Ike.
U.S. citizens should monitor local radio, the National Weather Service at
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov, and local media to stay aware of any weather developments in their area. For official information from the Dominican Government regarding weather conditions, please visit the ONAMET website at http://www.onamet.gov.do. The Dominican Emergency Operations Center (COE) website can be found at www.coe.gov.do Minor tropical storms can develop into hurricanes very quickly, limiting the time available for a safe evacuation. Travelers should apprise family and friends in the United States of their whereabouts, and keep in close contact with their tour operator, hotel staff, and local officials for evacuation instructions in the event of a weather emergency. Travelers should also protect their travel and identity documents against loss or damage, as the need to replace lost documentation could hamper or delay return to the United States.
U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the Department of State’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, American citizens can receive the Embassy’s most recent security and safety updates during their trip. Registration also ensures that U.S. citizens can be reached should an emergency arise either abroad or at home. While Consular Officers will do their utmost to assist Americans in a crisis, travelers should always be aware that local authorities bear primary responsibility for the welfare of people living or traveling in their jurisdictions.
For emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy. The Consular Section of the Embassy is located at the corner of Cesar Nicolas Penson Street and Máximo Gómez Avenue, Santo Domingo, D.R.; telephone 809-731-4294; after hours emergency telephone 809-221-2171; ACS unit fax 809-689-6142; e-mail
[email protected]; website www.usemb.gov.do.
Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found on the Hurricane Season 2008 page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_3795.html or in the “Hurricane Season-Know Before You Go” pamphlet at:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_2915.html. Updated information on travel in hurricane-prone regions may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. Travelers to the region are encouraged to check the Internet site of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with consular responsibilities for the territory they will be visiting (accessible via http://usembassy.state.gov/). For further information please consult the Country Specific Information Sheet for the country or territory in question, available via the Internet at
http://travel.state.gov.
