Plip! Plop! Drip! Drop!...

While we were in the States, the Dominican Republic experienced Hurricanes Gustav, Hannah & Ike . NOT direct hits, but, none the less, lots of rain and some strong winds. During Ike, Ken & Sara, who were staying in our apartment, had to place the boards on the open windows of our laundry room, and were without electricity at times.
Wel, now we have Tropical Wave 93L. It has already hit Puerto Rico. PR in places has received 20-30 inches of rain and it's still coming down there! The front edge has finally hit here in Juan Dolio, where it started raining about 10PM yesterday. At times it is quite heavy. They are predicting rain thru Wednesday.
I just watched CNN Headline news and they gave brief coverage. Since it does NOT have strong winds, such as a hurricane, it doesn't seem like a big deal in the US. But believe me it is!
Last year Tropical Storm Noel & Olga caused more damage then Hurricane George in 1998, which made a direct hit in Juan Dolio.

Check out this site to give you a better picture:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t1/loop-rb.html


Villages can't take continual rain, esp with dirt roads, and often times dirt floors in their homes.
We are on the 2nd floor of our apartment bldg, and, thankfully, the landlord repaired the roof after Noel & Olga. So we are high and dry. But please pray for those that are not!
There is a med team here from Indiana. They have med clinics planned today, tomorrow and Thursday. Please pray that the buses will make it in and out of the villages. Also, that the people in the villages will actually come to the clinics. Usually, we have an abundance of patients, but when it rains, they don't want to come outside. Can't blame them for not wanting to sit or stand in the rain for hours either!

One benefit of the rain, is that it has cooled off our apartment building, so we aren't having to run any fans at all! That is really strange!

Actually, I'm surprised I still have Internet. Usually, we lose it in the rain. So far--so good!

love,
~~anna~~

Quick update: I just got off the phone with Dr Tolentino. Our clinic is closed for today. He actually seemed surprised that I was even thinking it might be open! The Dra. won't make it in fro Consuelo, patients won't come out in the rain, and the people need to stay home with their property as they don't know how bad it will get or what will happen. (Those are his words, not mine.)
This is NOT a hurricane ~~just a huge amount of rain. predicted to last at least thru tomorrow.
But in a country of coral and dirt with many people living in poorly constructed 'houses' along river banks (already swollen), a major amount of rain can be dangerous.