By the Caribbean Journal staff

The beloved Grand Case Beach Club hotel was hit during Hurricane Irma, and now its staff and their families need help, both to rebuild their homes and their lives.

The property has set up a crowdfunding page to help raise money that will be distributed immediately to directly benefit their families, providing them with the resources needed to get back on their feet.

Follow this link, and you can help the “Grand Case Beach Club family” in their quest for recovery.

Visit the crowdfunding page for more information.

As for the hotel, officials said they had a “strong team” working to clear debris and assess the damage to begin repairs.

All bookings have been suspended temporarily “until our reopening date becomes clearer.”

For wider help to St Martin, please visit the Salvation Army.

The post How to Help the Staff of a Beloved Hotel in St Martin appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Punta Cana’s airport has officially reopened after the passage of Hurricane Maria, officials announced.

The airport, one of the busiest in the Caribbean, welcomed three flights from Delta out of New York and Atlanta.

Punta Cana resumed operations after a preventive stop ordered by authorities during Maria’s arrival off the coast of the country.

The airport receives about 60 percent of visitors to the Dominican Republic.

Airport authorities said that flight schedules would be normalized as they confirm with individual airlines.

The hotel and tourism association of the Dominican Republic, ASONAHORES, said the country’s tourism infrastructure had not suffered “material damages” as a result of Hurricane Maria, which passed on the north and northeastern coast of the country.

“The main tourism installations and infrastructure in Punta Cana, Samanà and Puerto Plata including the North Coast, have not suffered any important damage with Hurricane Maria; its main effect has been damages to gardens and the falling of trees,” the organization said in a statement.

Around 50,000 tourists spent Wednesday night and Thursday in what officials called “secure conditions,” with those relocated returning Thursday to their original hotels.

ASONAHORES said areas on the north coast including Cabarete, Sosua and Puerto Plata had seen rain and high tide, but do not project “major impacts.”

The post Punta Cana Airport Reopens After Hurricane Maria appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

United States President Donald Trump has declared that a “major disaster” exists in Puerto Rico and in St Croix, ordering federal assistance to supplement local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Maria.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help both individuals and small business owners.

Alejandro de la Campa has been appointed as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in Puerto Rico.

Trump’s declaration makes federal funding available to those affected in the Puerto Rico municipalities across the island.

Puerto Rico was hammered by Maria, with much of the island in a blackout and widespread damage.

The total damage assessment is still underway.

St Croix was pummeled by Maria as well, although the extent of damage remains unclear.

William L. Vogel has been tapped as the Federal Coordinating Officer for recovery operations in affected areas in St Croix.

The post White House Approves Puerto Rico, St Croix Disaster Declaration appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hurricane Maria clobbered Puerto Rico on Wednesday, sending it into a total island-wide blackout, with reports of significant property damage.

It was not yet clear how much damage had been wrought, nor was it yet possible to determine the number of injuries or potential deaths.

Maria hit Puerto Rico with more than 20 inches of rain and serious flooding, with conditions strong enough to knock out radar and telecommunications.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello imposed a curfew at 6 PM on Wednesday evening, calling it “essential to maintain order.”

Rossello said he had already asked US President Donald Trump to declare Puerto Rico a Disaster Zone.

The Dominican Republic was next in Maria’s path late Wednesday and early Thursday morning,

Above: the projected path of the storm.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Dominican Republic between Cabo Engano and Puerto Plata, along with the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Dominican Republic west of Puerto Plata to the northern border with Haiti and the Dominican Republic west of Cabo Engano to Punta Palenque.

The storm was set to pass offshore the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic early Thursday before moving toward the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas Thursday night and Friday.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello imposed a curfew on Wednesday evening.

Maximum sustained winds were around 110 miles per hour with higher gusts, although some strengthening was forecast in the next day or two, according to the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.

While the storm was already moving away from Puerto Rico on Wednesday evening, it was still hitting the island with torrential rains.

The post Hurricane Maria Heads Toward Dominican Republic After Hammering Puerto Rico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The French Caribbean island of Martinique was spared after Tuesday’s encounter with Hurricane Irma, officials said.

Martinique’s Aime Cesaire International Airport reopened on Wednesday morning, with ports scheduled to reopen on Thursday.

“In Martinique, reconnaissance operations are still underway but already we can see that there is no significant damage,” said Jacques Witkowski, France’s head of civil protection and crisis response.

The rum bar at Le Petibonum in Le Carbet was back to serving cocktails on Wednesday.

Martinique was also spared by Hurricane Irma earlier this month.

“We are all deeply saddened by the devastation experienced by Dominica, Martinique’s neighbor to the North, and pray that all of our friends who are now in the storm’s path will be spared the worst of this powerful hurricane,” said Karine Mousseau, Martinique Tourism Commissioner.

Indeed, even in the north of Martinique, which was closer to the path of the storm, the island’s most popular bar, Le Petibonum, was back and open for business serving Martinique’s famous cocktail, the Ti’ Punch.

The post Martinique Quickly Back to Business After Maria appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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