Introduction: The Dominican Republic Destruction: Hurricane Georges Gallery of Images: Health, Water and Sanitation Agricultural and Economic Reactivation Utilities Disaster Mitigation Housing Rising to the Challenge Message From Elena Brineman, Mission Director Last updated: Monday, 11-Mar-2002 07:35:18 EST

DESTRUCTION

During the early afternoon on September 22, 1998, Hurricane Georges struck the Dominican Republic. It made landfall just east of the capital city of Santo Domingo.

Throughout the afternoon and long into the night - for 16 hours - Georges slowly traveled across the island of Hispaniola. Sustained winds of up to 150 mph and torrential rains of up to 20 inches lashed at the mountainous countryside.

At dawn, the devastation became evident:

Nearly 70 percent of the country sustained damage; more than 200 people were killed.

Health problems caused by Georges were immediate and dramatic, including increased vector-borne (malaria and dengue), diarrhea and communicable diseases (conjunctivitis and respiratory). Georges severely limited the availability of safe, clean water, and destroyed sanitation facilities.

Small businesses were destroyed. Income levels for the rural population went into a precipitous decline.

The physical infrastructure that served the entire nation sustained significant damage. Twenty-five percent of the roads and 60 percent of the bridges were destroyed.

Agriculture and the environment suffered serious damage. Ten percent of the livestock were injured or destroyed. Ninety percent of basic food crops were ruined in the field. About 600,000 Dominicans were in need of immediate food assistance. Close to 50 percent of the forests were damaged.

Total economic damage came to $3.3 billion.