Wednesday, August 27, 2008

My First Hurricane

So Hurricane Gustav has been in the news lately as it heads towards the US. En route, it passed over the Dominican Republic, raining lots and causing flooding in many places. It has now passed over and the capital seems to be rapidly recovering, but I have not seen the damage done in my community yet.

Sunday, when I left for Santo Domingo, I was expecting to stay for the day, maybe head back Monday morning. Sunday was gray and humid, both in my site, and in the capital. It rained, off and on all afternoon, each downpour getting stronger. Monday morning, I was swimming at the pool, and when I got out there was a message to "Standfast"due to an impending storm. That means "stay where you are," so my fellow stranded volunteers and I bunked down for a few days of rain, some wind, and time in the capital while Gustav wreaked havoc in most of our sites and in most of the country.

Considering the flooding that tropical storm Faye caused in my community and house just ten days before, I am sure that the more rural and vulnerable areas of the country are still recovering.