SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: As the early hours of Wednesday started, Tropical Storm Franklin surged towards the island of Hispaniola, shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Apprehensions grew over the potential for the storm to trigger lethal landslides and extensive flooding across both nations.
Throughout Wednesday, forecasters anticipated Franklin to linger over the island, accompanied by warnings of potential rainfall of up to 25 centimetres (10 inches), with isolated areas facing the possibility of a maximum of 38 centimetres (15 inches) of rainfall.
As of Tuesday night, the storm’s location was 280 kilometres (175 miles) southwest of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, as reported by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm boasted maximum winds of 65 kph (40 mph) while maintaining a northward movement at 15 kph (9 mph).
Simultaneously, Tropical Storm Harold weakened into a tropical depression on Tuesday night after making landfall in South Texas. The storm brought forceful winds and rainfall, leading to power outages in numerous homes.
Concerns within the Caribbean region primarily focused on Haiti, a nation susceptible to devastating flooding due to extensive erosion. Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, urged citizens to stock up on essential supplies like water, food, and medication. Authorities were in the process of assessing the status of over 200,000 individuals displaced by gang violence, some of whom resorted to street living or makeshift shelters. The memory of a powerful thunderstorm in June, resulting in over 40 casualties across Haiti, remained fresh in the minds of many.
In the Dominican Republic, a series of precautionary measures were taken, including the closure of schools, government offices, and several airports. The red alert status was implemented in at least 24 out of the country’s 31 provinces. On Tuesday, reports of flooding surfaced in Santo Domingo and its surrounding areas, prompting residents to brace themselves for substantial rainfall.
Doralisa Sánchez, a government employee residing near the Ozama River that divides the capital, expressed her anxiety, saying, “We’re scared of the river.” She had been forced to evacuate her home three times due to previous storms and hoped that Franklin wouldn’t necessitate another evacuation, as belongings left behind often fell prey to theft.
Others, like businesswoman Albita Archangel, voiced their worries about the lack of suitable shelter in the event of rising waters. She maintained her hope, stating, “We are hoping for God’s will,” while pointing out that her patio was already flooded.
For many Dominicans residing in flood-prone regions, the approaching storm was a cause of significant concern. Juan Olivo Urbáez, a small business owner in a community near the Ozama River, highlighted the area’s vulnerability to even minor rainfall, stating, “When two drops of water fall here, this suddenly becomes flooded.”
A tropical storm warning enveloped the entire southern coastline of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, in addition to the entire northern coast of the Dominican Republic. A tropical storm watch was also put in place for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Franklin marked the seventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30. In a forecast update on August 10, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above-average hurricane season. They projected between 14 and 21 named storms, of which six to eleven could escalate into hurricanes, with two to five potentially becoming major hurricanes.
Tropical Storm Harold, which made landfall near South Padre Island on the Texas Gulf coast, had weakened to a depression by Tuesday night. The storm caused power outages in the city of Corpus Christi, impacting numerous homes and businesses.
