Tropical Storm Franklin Hits Hispaniola, Triggering Landslides and Flooding
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tropical Storm Franklin made landfall on Wednesday on the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm brought heavy rains that are expected to cause landslides and flooding in both countries.
Forecasters warned that Franklin could drop up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in the Dominican Republic, with a maximum of 16 inches (41 centimeters) in the western and central regions. In Haiti, up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain are forecast, with nearly 8 inches (20 centimeters) in the eastern regions.
Emergency operations director Juan Manuel Méndez urged the population of the Dominican Republic to stay in their homes, the homes of friends and family, or in shelters. More than 200 people were already in shelters, and authorities were searching for a missing man who jumped into a creek during the storm.
In neighboring Puerto Rico, which was also affected by Franklin’s rain, authorities were searching for two scuba divers who went missing in the storm-churned waters.
The U.N.’s World Food Program warned that around 125,000 people in the Dominican Republic are living in areas that are extremely vulnerable to landslides and flash floods due to poor living conditions near rivers, creeks, and lagoons.
Residents in flood-prone areas of the Dominican Republic expressed concern about the storm. Hércules Urbáez, a father of six, took his family to his mother’s house for safety. However, some people have refused to leave their homes despite the risks.
As of late Wednesday morning, the storm was centered about 65 miles (100 kilometers) south-southwest of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. It had maximum winds of 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts and was moving northward at 13 mph (20 kph). Rivers across the country were swelling, and flooding had already been reported in the capital, Santo Domingo.
In Haiti, which is prone to catastrophic flooding due to severe erosion, officials were particularly concerned about Franklin’s impact. Jean-Martin Bauer, the World Food Program’s director for Haiti, stated that Haiti is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world when it comes to extreme weather. In June, heavy rains from a powerful thunderstorm caused over 40 deaths in the country.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry urged Haitians to stock up on water, food, and medication in preparation for the storm. Over 200,000 people in Haiti have been displaced by gang violence in recent years, and authorities checked on those living on the streets or in makeshift shelters.
In response to the storm, the Dominican Republic closed schools, government agencies, and several airports. At least 25 of the country’s 31 provinces were under a red alert. More than 40 aqueducts were out of service due to heavy rains, affecting over 830,000 customers.
The storm also weakened Tropical Storm Harold into a tropical depression after it made landfall in South Texas, causing strong winds and rain and leaving thousands of homes without power.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for the entire southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as well as the entire northern Dominican coast. The government of the Bahamas also issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Franklin is the seventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to be above normal this year. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration forecasted between 14 to 21 named storms, with six to 11 potentially becoming hurricanes and two to five possibly becoming major hurricanes.
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
