Tropical Storm Noel Devastates the Dominican Republic

Tropical Storm Noel has yet to produce hurricane strength winds, but the slow moving storm has dumped torrential rains on Hispaniola and is already causing major misery for people in the Caribbean region. Mudslides and major flooding have impacted Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as in the Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas and Camguey provinces of Cuba. Erosion has also claimed several homes and business and is affecting crop production in the poor nations.

According to a press release from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, there has been major damage to the urban and rural infrastructure in the Dominican Republic, especially in the San Juan, La Vega, Sanchez Ramirez, Azua and Barahona provinces. The group Food for the Poor have reported that the Dominican government has listed 20 deaths and 20 more missing since Noel made landfall. The storm has worsened conditions in an area already ravaged by Hurricanes Dean and Felix, two Category 5 storms that left thousands in the area homeless .

The agriculture industry has been severely impacted and it may take months to recover. Plantain and banana plantation have been especially hard hit and tomato and red onion crops have been devastated as well. While officials have not been able to make a complete assessment of the damage, it is thought that the entire vegetable and plantain crops have been lost in some regions of the country. The saturated ground will also likely delay planting for the bean crop that was scheduled for November, further increasing the economic impact of the tropical storm. The UN also cautions that accumulated water from the tropical storm may cause the overflow the Tavare dam and the pouring of water into the Yague del Norte River, which could cause further flooding in the northwest provinces of the Dominican Republic. Flooding in this area could significantly affect the current paddy crop, which represents almost 30 per cent of the yearly production, and if flooding continues, it could further impact crop losses.

Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, has not sustained the same amount of storm related damage. There have been no reports of storm related deaths and only moderate damage to a small number of houses. There have been reports of oversaturated which can cause damage to the second crop harvest.

The aid group Food for the Poor has shipped tents, blankets, medical supplies, clothing and food.

Sourc: UN FAO Press Release