From today's DR1 - Juan Dolio continues to rise skyward!

[DrChrisHE]

Well, well, well...sorry for my delayed response... I was feeling another nasty wave of fever from Dengue (yes my SECOND strain since living here--in Metro). Okay...to answer a few questions for which I have answers: Thank heaven that Metro Co Club homes have septic---not sure about Costa del Sol (Frank R--do you know?)

Next, Lambada is right about the earthquakes...it doesn't matter if we are not RIGHT smack on the epicenter. Tsunamis as well as lovely chocolate rivers of mudslides are frequent earthquake side effects--but honestly, JD isn't THAT far from ANY of the epicenters on Steve G's very helpful map (thanks Steve--you answered a point of discussion between dh and me.) The DR is like a cross between CA and FL when it comes to natural hazards. It never stopped me from living in CA--but CA has building codes and natural disaster plans that work.

Next, DreBrodeders...you are lucky or maybe need a check on your eye prescription or are very tolerant. Unfortunately every time the volunteers and groups of orphans go to the beach, I SEE the after effects (multiple infections, deep lacerations, etc.) and I personally pick stuff of the beach every time I'm there (like razor blades and way too much broken shards of glass--the DR has a future industry in sea glass) and see things like floating feces in the water. I will say that the hotels do a decent job of RAKING THE SAND to pick up most of the awful trash. The vast amount of stagnant water is still a rampant breeding ground for mosquitos (and YES, I have a personal thing against mosquitos--death to mosquitos-- especially since our youngest had a 104.5 from a whopper of a case of Dengue--and he's not spending time in any batay areas). We have been VERY lucky that malaria hasn't become endemic (that would be a low lying constant level) as it has in Bavaro or along the Haitian border. However, I would bet money that if Malaria were to get a firm foothold in Juan Dolio, the tourism would suffer OR the developers would get serious about the mosquito abatement issues (which means dealing with the trash, abandoned construction & campsites from worker, untreated sewage and pooling storm water.)

Oh yes...I really DO like Steve G's idea of dedicating one side of the road for construction vehicles and the other for the rest of us. Could you have them fix "our" side NOW, please??? And, do you know what it will take to keep the trucks on their side (aka the mountains off-road terrain?)

Lambada...don't you know that those of us on the S side are jealous of the N. Side's waves and LONG for those tsunamis???

[dulce]

Dre
danger-warning-signs in a bananacountry???????????

ja ja ja ja perdona mi
I have seen warnings for wet floors. ja ja ja

[Dre Broeders]

Originally Posted by DrChrisHE

and I personally pick stuff of the beach every time I'm there (like razor blades and way too much broken shards of glass- However, I would bet money that if Malaria were to get a firm foothold in Juan Dolio, the tourism would suffer OR the developers would get serious about the mosquito

I am also very irritated about the garbidge that leave the Dominicans from the Capital on the beach.
The government must taken action.
In Juan Dolio is not malaria and there is also not coming malaria.

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by STEVE G.

Have to tell you how confused you are about the area . Juan Dolio is not in a North Coast my dear

And my dear poor lil' ole confused me is simply useless at reading a map & working out distances. Any of those epicentres on your map within the 15 to 20 mile range of JD?

Because, if so, ask those of us living in Puerto Plata (that's on the north coast my dear ) what the 2003 quake was like. The epicentre was 15 miles distant from us & I promise you that a 6.2 was most certainly feelable. Even brought some concrete roofs down (ask the owners of HKM a building ONE storey high). Damaged a few schools as well (2 storeys high) & the spire on the Cathedral (equivalent to 3 storeys high). How high are those JD towers?

[Celt202]

The north coast of the DR lies along the northern edge of the Caribbean plate.

Caribbean Plate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A catastrophic event along the southern or even eastern edges of the plate could send a tsunami directly towards the south coast of the DR.

[STEVE G.]

Originally Posted by Lambada

...Because, if so, ask those of us living in Puerto Plata (that's on the north coast my dear ) what the 2003 quake was like. The epicentre was 15 miles distant from us & I promise you that a 6.2 was most certainly feelable. Even brought some concrete roofs down (ask the owners of HKM a building ONE storey high). Damaged a few schools as well (2 storeys high) & the spire on the Cathedral (equivalent to 3 storeys high)...

[STEVE G.]

''The Caribbean--including the South Coast of the United States--is particularly prone to tsunami as the Caribbean plate slides eastward relative to the North American plate at a rate of 2cm yr-1, producing strong seismic activity in the Puerto Rico Trench...At least 10 significant tsunamis have been documented in the northern Caribbean since 1492, and six resulted in loss of life. The most recent occurred in 1946, triggered by a 8.1-magnitude earthquake off the Northeast Coast of the Dominican Republic . Locally, the tsunami penetrated several kilometers inland and drowned about approximately 1,800 people . It also was observed at Daytona Beach, Florida....''

[STEVE G.]

Originally Posted by dulce

...
I have seen warnings for wet floors. ja ja ja

You might see them in the Resorts

[STEVE G.]

Originally Posted by NALs

Perhaps its part of the building code nationwide.
I know that everywhere in the US new constructions have to be earthquake safe, even in Florida. At least all the bridges are being constructed with earthquakes in mind.
What are the chances of an earthquake shaking Florida?
Has Florida ever had an earthquake?...NALs

You are right . It's a part of the building code nationwide now . All the new buildings ( over 6 floors at least ) must be earthquake safe , specially like this ones of 30 floors .

[Lambada]

SteveG, Puerto Plata town wasn't the epicentre of the 2003 quake. The epicentre according to US Geological Survey AND those of us who lived through it was some 15 kms. i.e. 9 or 10 miles south of PP.
'Location: 19.676°N, 70.669°W Distances: 15 km (10 miles) S of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic'
Advisories: Dominican Republic: Earthquake - Sep 2003, M=6.5 Dominican Republic Preliminary Earthquake Report

Coordinates for PP are 19°27′N 70°42′W I believe, so you can see epicentre was outside PP town by 10 miles or so (for which we were profoundly grateful).

Of course virtually the whole of the DR felt it.