No one was paying attention to Tropical Storm Franklin as its course was well south of the island. Then on Monday, 21 August 2023, Dominicans were surprised when forecasters announced Franklin would cross the DR given that wind shear would detour it north from its westerly course.
Fresh in people’s minds was the flooding in Greater Santo Domingo caused by intense rains on 4 November 2022 and that caused by Category 1 Hurricane Fiona on 19 September 2022 in eastern provinces.
President Luis Abinader acted on the safe side and ordered work off on Tuesday, 22 August 2023 afternoon through Wednesday, 23 August. The country should prepare for the worst and pray for the best. The day off also allowed for thousands of volunteers to get ready to help their fellow Dominicans prepare.
Dominicans adhered to the Presidential order to stay at home on Wednesday, 23 August 2023 as most people shared the same expectations the huge storm would bring heavy rains and major flooding in cities, towns and rural communities nationwide. There were, nevertheless, reports on social media of people enjoying swimming in pools of dirty water and street parties.
There was nothing easily predictable about Franklin. The storm seemed to want to outsmart everyone. The storm parked itself south of the Dominican Republic, turned further south, and only then gradually began the forecast turn to the north.
The storm would take its time as it proceeded to enter by Paraiso in Barahona province on the southwest and exit land by Puerto Plata, in the center of the north coast.
The forecast had been for upwards of 100mm of rain to 300mm. “The models continue to indicate that in the next 24 to 48 hours, the accumulated rainfall expected concerning this system will oscillate between 200 and 300 mm and may be higher in isolated points,” the National Weather Office (Onamet) had warned on Monday evening.
The good news is that the rains were much less. Enriquillo-Barahona, where the storm entered did receive 240.8 mm of water, followed by Polo-Barahona 190 mm and Las Americas International Airport to the east of the capital city received 109 mm.
Otherwise, the reports were of 98.6 mm in eastern Rafael del Yuma, 95.5 mm in central San José de Ocoa, 89.7 mm in Santo Domingo East, 85.0 mm in Punta Cana on the East Coast, 72.9 mm in southcentral Azua, in Santo Domingo province, La Isabela Airport received 72.8 mm and La Victoria 66.4 mm. There were reports of Peralta-Azua receiving 59.4 mm, Pedernales (Olivares) 54.6 mm and Escondido, Peravia (Baní) 51.3 mm.
In Greater Santo Domingo, most areas got more a drizzle than rain. The city flooding did not happen, with the exception of some pockets. Among these, the so-called Av. Barceló that borders the Ozama River to the east.
The cities were mostly calm Wednesday evening, with almost all businesses shut down.
Listin Diario reports damages in farming areas, especially to the tomato nurseries in San Jose de Ocoa province. Nevertheless, areas such as the northwestern border province of Dajabón reported no rains, whatsoever. Santiago, in the center of the country, did not seem to notice the storm had passed. Macadamia farms in San Jose de las Matas complained they needed the rains that didn’t come.
In San Cristóbal, 32-year old Carlos Marino Martinez was reported to have died on Wednesday, 23 August in the community of Bandaño, reportedly swept buy the waters of a gully. Two persons are missing, suspected to have drowned in a gully in Santo Domingo West. A teenager is suspect of also having drowned when taking a dip in the rising waters of Nigua River in San Cristobal.
Punta Cana, the country’s most important tourism destination, reported some downpours, but for the most part resorts continued to operate with special activities for the guests. Nevertheless, in the rural areas of La Altagracia province, river flooding affected bridges and rural communities.
The Punta Cana International Airport never closed. Most other airports closed on Tuesday, 22 August at 10pm and reopened early the following day. Punta Cana International Airport only reported three flight cancellations for the storm. Yet, overall, airports reported 37 flight cancellations.
The National Association of Hotels & Tourism (Asonahores) reported that the storm did not significantly affect tourism activities.
El Nuevo Diario executive editor, Persio Maldonado wrote an editorial calling the storm “a blessing” because it pointed out the vulnerable areas. The peak time of the Atlantic Hurricane season is September for the Dominican Republic.
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Listin Diario
24 August 2023