Effects of Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean facts for kids
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Dorian making landfall in St. Croix on August 28
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| Duration | August 26–29, 2019 |
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| Winds | 1-minute sustained: 80 mph (130 km/h) Gusts: 110 mph (175 km/h) |
| Pressure | 993 mbar (hPa); 29.32 inHg |
| Fatalities | 1 indirect |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico |
| Part of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Dorian was a powerful storm that caused some damage in the eastern Caribbean in August 2019. It started as a weather system moving west from Africa. On August 24, it became a tropical cyclone, which is a strong storm with a spinning center.
Dorian reached the Lesser Antilles on August 26 as a tropical storm. It then turned northwest and unexpectedly grew stronger, becoming a hurricane as it hit the Virgin Islands on August 27. Before the storm arrived, local governments in the islands told people to get ready. They opened shelters, closed airports, and had emergency teams ready. Many islands were still recovering from Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in 2017, so people were worried about power outages.
In the first areas Dorian hit, there were only strong winds and some rain. The Virgin Islands had stronger winds, up to 111 miles per hour (179 km/h), but the damage was still light. There were some landslides across the islands and Puerto Rico, and only a few buildings were damaged. Sadly, one person in Puerto Rico died while getting ready for the storm.
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How Hurricane Dorian Started
Hurricane Dorian began as a tropical wave that moved away from the west coast of Africa on August 19, 2019. As it traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, this small system gathered more showers and thunderstorms, which is called convection. It officially became a tropical depression on August 24, and soon after, a tropical storm.
At first, tough weather conditions stopped the storm from getting much stronger as it moved towards the Lesser Antilles. Dorian made landfall in Barbados and St. Lucia on August 27, with winds of about 50 miles per hour (85 km/h). After its center reorganized, the storm turned northwest and gained strength. It formed an eye, which is the calm center of a hurricane. Dorian became a hurricane as it hit St. Croix and St. Thomas. The strongest winds in the Caribbean were recorded during its landfall near St. Thomas, reaching 80 miles per hour (130 km/h).
In the days that followed, Dorian grew even stronger. It became a Category 5 hurricane before hitting the Bahamas on September 1. It caused very serious damage there, becoming a huge challenge for the country. Later, Dorian also caused damage along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada. The storm finally ended on September 9 over the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Getting Ready for the Storm
On August 25, a tropical storm watch was issued for Barbados. This meant a tropical storm was possible in the area. Later that day, watches and warnings were also put in place for other islands like the Caribbean Netherlands, Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. A hurricane watch was issued for Saint Lucia on August 26, but this was soon changed back to a tropical storm warning. These warnings were lifted as the storm moved away.
Between August 26 and 28, different watches and warnings were issued for Puerto Rico. However, these were later canceled because the storm moved further east than expected. On August 27 and 28, tropical storm warnings were issued for the Virgin Islands. Dorian hit the Virgin Islands on August 28, becoming a hurricane at that time. Because Dorian got stronger so quickly, hurricane warnings were issued very late, sometimes even after hurricane conditions had already started. All warnings ended as the hurricane left the Caribbean on August 28.
Preparations in the Islands
In Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley ordered all schools to close. She told everyone to stay indoors during the storm. Public workers cleaned drains across the island. Thirty-eight shelters opened, and 103 people used them for safety. All public services stopped during the storm. Homeless people were taken to shelters by emergency teams.
On August 26, St. Lucia's Prime Minister Allen Chastanet announced that the country would "shut down" for Dorian, and all residents had to stay home. However, some people did not listen, and police had to ask several people to return home. LIAT airlines canceled many flights across the Lesser Antilles because of the storm. The Department of Infrastructure had heavy machines ready to help with cleanup.
In Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told all government workers to stay home and prepare. People were more careful because of the damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017. Skerrit told residents that the country was "better prepared now" than after Maria. The Ministry of Public Works got heavy machines ready, and the police were on high alert for emergency calls. Warnings for small boats and possible flash floods were also issued.
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Puerto Rico was also still recovering from Hurricane Maria in 2017. Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced declared a state of emergency on August 27. This emergency lasted until September 6. The next day, the Puerto Rico National Guard was called to help with any storm relief. Hundreds of vehicles, generators, and water trucks were filled and ready to go. People were very worried about the power grid, which was still weak after Maria. In some places, power lines were still tied to palm trees. Hundreds of utility workers were ready to fix any power outages quickly.
Government officials said they had enough supplies, but some local leaders mentioned they needed more generators and shelters. About 30,000 homes still had damaged roofs from the 2017 hurricane. Residents put plywood on windows and bought bottled water and generators. All government offices and schools closed. Across the territory, 360 shelters opened, which could hold 48,500 people. 24,000 cots were sent to these shelters. In Vieques, private groups worked to keep residents safe. They set up a 32-radio network to connect residents, churches, emergency workers, and businesses. Volunteers also gave a generator to the island's local shelter.
The Virgin Islands were also recovering from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. A state of emergency was declared for the United States Virgin Islands on August 28. A curfew was put in place, meaning people had to stay indoors during certain hours. All airports and seaports stopped working. The Government of the British Virgin Islands opened seven shelters. A mandatory curfew was set from 2:00 p.m. on August 28 to 6:00 a.m. on August 29. Thirty-five people used public shelters. The American Red Cross prepared tarps for any buildings with roof damage. Several airports closed during the storm. Most clinics and hospitals in the British Virgin Islands closed, but a few stayed open.
Hurricane Dorian's Impact
On August 26, winds started to get stronger in the Lesser Antilles, and water levels along the coast began to rise. In Barbados, wind gusts reached 55 miles per hour (89 km/h), knocking down trees and power lines. Some homes in southern Barbados lost power and water. Overall, Dorian caused little damage in Barbados, with only one home damaged. St. Lucia had some power outages, but no other damage.
In Martinique, heavy rains, up to 102 millimeters (4.0 in) in Rivière-Pilote, and winds up to 98 km/h (61 mph) caused minor damage. About 4,000 homes lost power, and many streets were flooded and could not be used. One road was washed out. Flooding affected some homes and businesses in Rivière-Pilote, but the total damage was small. Heavy showers in Dominica left some communities without power and water, but other effects were limited. Rain also reached Guadeloupe, where 121 millimeters (4.8 in) fell in Matouba.
Impact in the Virgin Islands
As Dorian hit the Virgin Islands and grew stronger, it brought strong winds and heavy rains. Rainfall reached 5.8 inches (150 mm) in Anna's Retreat on St. Thomas. On St. Croix, the first island hit, winds reached 59 miles per hour (95 km/h) with gusts up to 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). A private weather station on Saint Thomas recorded winds of 72 miles per hour (116 km/h) and gusts up to 97 miles per hour (156 km/h). The strongest winds were on Buck Island, with sustained winds of 82 miles per hour (132 km/h) and a peak gust of 111 miles per hour (179 km/h).
Power went out across Saint Thomas and Saint John. 25,000 customers lost power on Saint Croix. Power was mostly back on within a day. The strong winds knocked down trees across the islands. Along the coast, several boats broke free and washed ashore. Some boaters needed to be rescued when their yacht ran aground. Another boat became disabled near Water Island.
In the British Virgin Islands, some flooding and landslides happened on Tortola, blocking several roads. There was significant flooding and some damage to buildings near Road Town. A mall even had part of its roof torn off by the strong winds. Fallen trees caused power outages for homes on Virgin Gorda. Waves from the storm also brought a lot of seaweed, called Sargassum, onto the beaches of Anegada.
Impact in Puerto Rico
Because Hurricane Dorian moved further northeast than expected, its effects in Puerto Rico were not as severe. Rainbands from the hurricane brought strong winds and heavy rain on August 28–29. The heaviest rains were on the southern and eastern coasts, with 5.44 inches (138 mm) falling in Juana Díaz. Wind gusts reached 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) in Culebra and 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) in San Juan.
About 23,000 homes across the territory lost power. Sadly, a man in Bayamón died when he fell off his roof while trying to clear drains before the storm. Flash floods, rockslides, and mudslides affected several areas, with some blocking roads. One person was trapped by floodwaters near Humacao. Also, the Blanco, Guayanés, and Marín rivers overflowed, covering local roads.
