St James's, England, United Kingdom 44 Mostly Cloudy. There were no fatalities in the islands and one minor injury was reported. [30], In all, Georges caused $3.6billion in damage and there were no direct casualties due to well-executed warnings. A tornado outbreak produced 47tornadoes20 in Alabama, 17 in Florida, and 10 in Georgia, leaving 36injuries and about $9million in damage. The hurricane made landfall in at least six countries (Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the United States), more than any other hurricane since Hurricane Inez of the 1966 season. [18], The World Bank donated $111 million to a $125 million project which was to re-stabilize the Dominican Republic after Hurricane Georges. SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic declared a state of emergency in eight eastern provinces on Monday, after Hurricane Fiona tore through the country's tourism hub. Despite the mandatory evacuation order, 20,000people, including over 7,000Key West citizens, refused to leave. In the Dominican Republic, Fiona made its second landfall with winds of about 90 mph, with damaging winds and flash floods. The people I talked with in the shelter said they had less than a minute to run out of their houses before the homes were destroyed by the mudflows pouring down the mountain. After a severe drought in 1997, extreme rainfall damaged around 470,000 acres (1,900km2) of food crops. 1:06 Hurricane Maria lashes Dominican Republic with heavy rain, high winds. Though damage was minimal, one person died in the country.[1]. with U.S. agricultural producers. impact the island's economy. [22], Damage in St. Kitts totaled EC$1.2billion (US$458million). the supply of electricity and availability of phone services throughout It was moving to the northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). In addition to this, President Fidel Castro spoke live on national television to explain the country's plans to withstand the hurricane, as well as ensuring a quick recovery effort by using all of the nation's resources. [11] After the storm, over 6,800people stayed in 49 shelters. Low 39F. Grand Gosier, the home to a flock of brown pelicans, experienced severe flooding, destroying their habitats. The French arrived with Puma helicopters at the end of the week. [36], Most impacted by Hurricane Georges was the agricultural industry. Between Panama City Beach and Perdido Key, most of the beach access stairs and walkways suffered damage. small ruminants, and pasture and grain crops for large animals. People who sold sausage and people who had milk companies donated food. the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports 865,510 displaced and Maximum sustained. 400,000 homeless persons, and the American Red Cross reports 2,000 missing In Mississippi, rainfall as high as 25 inches was recorded. The Haitian Civil Protection Directorate In the potentially impacted area, Cuba's revolutionary army was sent to farm lands to harvest crops that could be destroyed during the storm. buildings. of the destruction and damage to the housing stock. Overall, damage in Alabama amounted to $125million. of those supplies to the other affected islands. The BDR/OFDA obligated another $260,000 for a set of 100 500-gallon water tanks, 10 generators to power municipal water pumps, and many seeds to replant the country's agricultural system. 35% of homes on the island were damaged, though none were destroyed. Damage to dwellings is less severe in Nevis for monitoring and ensuring the effectiveness of any new BHR/OFDA initiatives. Wind damage to the buildings was minimal. All shelters experienced power outages, and after the storm passed through, lack of water and sewer systems became a serious problem. Two of the planes arrived on September 25, 1998, while the last one arrived the day after. [40] On the southern coast, the head of a U.S.-based medical team, stranded for several days by flooding in the remote town of Belle Anse, anticipated a rise in malnutrition, disease, homelessness and poverty. Manhattan, NY 49 Cloudy. However, the damage was much less than in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. resulted in poor urban neighborhoods and rural areas throughout the country Isolated tornadoes were also predicted on September 22. 1020% of houses were greatly impacted, including three schools. to develop and implement a recovery plan that focuses on the rehabilitation The storm surge was predicted to be 47 feet high and expected to batter the coastline. by Hurricane Georges. 25 to assist with assessment efforts and to coordinate BHR/OFDA response. St. Kitts' economy was disrupted from severe agricultural losses, including the devastation of 50% of their sugar crop. Historically, September is the most active month followed by August. transferred $40,000 to the USAID Mission to support a U.S. Peace Corps The total damage in the British Virgin Islands was valued at US$9.404million. The strongest sustained winds and gusts were recorded on St. Croix as well, measuring 74mph (119km/h) and 91mph (146km/h) respectively. Little Corn. Maximum rainfalls reached 6.79 inches (172mm) at the airport in St. Croix and 5.26 inches (134mm) at St. Thomas Airport. Most of those who stayed remained because they believed their house was safe enough for the storm. 7000 people evacuated to six shelters in the capital city of Santo Domingo. Upon making landfall, storm surge heights along the coast of Alabama were estimated to have ranged from 7 to 12ft (2.1 to 3.7m), with a peak of 11.9ft (3.6m) in Fort Morgan, along with 25ft (7.6m) waves on top of it. The maximal rainfall was up to 6.7inches (170mm) in the mountainous area. Because of this, portions of the state were evacuated, including New Orleans. [37], Upon making landfall, Hurricane Georges produced torrential rainfall, amounting to a maximum of 24.41inches (620mm) at Limonar in the province of Guantnamo. A Hurricane Watch means sustained winds of at least 74. In addition, John. [9] Large pastures for animals were destroy as well as poultry and other necessities. Disorganized Tropical Storm Grace heads for the Dominican Republic After moving through the Leeward Islands overnight as a disorganized tropical storm with 40 mph winds, Tropical Storm Grace is headed for an expected Monday morning landfall in the Dominican Republic. Au Prince, Cap-Haitien, and Leogane; and 2) aerial survey of the most affected . After passing through Antigua, Georges produced strong winds of up to 115mph (185km/h) while passing over St. Kitts, Georges caused catastrophic damage downing power lines, telephone lines, and trees across the island. Public expenditure during Tropical Storms Noel and Olga in 2007 was around 0.6% of GDP and reached 1.6% of GDP during 2004's Hurricane Jeanne. Shortly after peaking, upper-level wind shear from the development of an upper-level low weakened the hurricane on September 20 in the afternoon, as the central pressure had risen 26 mb as Georges approached the Leeward Islands. [25], No major damage was reported to public buildings in the British Virgin Islands. On September16, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georges, and to Hurricane Georges the next day. [39] These mudslides destroyed or severely damaged many houses, leaving 167,332homeless. By the following morning, most businesses had boarded up their windows and roads were quiet. The U.S. Embassy employees helped. [49] Many waterfront homes on the western side of the island were pushed into other homes or strewn into pieces across the sand. In follow-up to the U.S. It hit on the anniversary of Hurricane Hugo, which slammed into the island in 1989 as a . 11AM update: Hurricane Fiona is moving off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, hurricane hunters scheduled to investigate tonight, provided system moves far enough back over. [30] The hurricane brought storm surge peaking at an estimated 10-ft (3m) in height in Fajardo, along with tides up to 20ft (6m) above normal. For other storms of the same name, see, Hurricane Georges near peak intensity east of the, Chandelur Islands before (top) and after (bottom) Hurricane Georges, Impact on the U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 02:49, Meteorological history of Hurricane Georges, Effects of Hurricane Georges in the Lesser Antilles, Effects of Hurricane Georges in Puerto Rico, Effects of Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic, Effects of Hurricane Georges in Louisiana, Effects of Hurricane Georges in Mississippi, List of wettest tropical cyclones in the United States, Preliminary Report Hurricane Georges 15 September 01 October 1998 (updated September 2014), "How Hurricane Georges, 1998, affected Dominica", "Hurricane Georges pounds Caribbean islands", "FEMA operates In both response and recovery modes after hurricane Georges hits Puerto Rico and heads toward Florida", "Georges tears across Dominican Republic", "Hurricane Georges: A tale of two systems", "Hurricane Georges spares Florida for now", "Widespread South Florida evacuation urged", "Hurricane Georges Assessment: Review of Hurricane Evacuation Studies Utilization and Information Dissemination", "IMPACT OF HURRICANE GEORGES ON HEALTH SECTOR RESPONSE", "EM-DAT | the international disasters database", "Hurricane Vulnerability in Latin America and The Caribbean: Normalized Damage and Loss Potentials", Eastern Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Haiti Hurricane Georges Fact Sheet #9, Fiscal Year (FY) 1999, Caribbean Hurricane Georges Situation Report No. [49] Located on the weaker side of the storm, rainfall totals in Louisiana were low, with a maximum amount of 2.98in (76mm) in Bogalusa.[1]. Of those in the evacuation area, 60% actually left. have minor damage to roofing. The mountain flooding drained off in the island's rivers, causing every river to overflow its banks. Most of the people who died in the storm were poor. While moving slowly through the state, it dropped torrential rainfall, peaking at 29.66in (75mm) in Bay Minette. By later on September21, the hurricane warning was canceled for all islands east of the Virgin Islands including Antigua, Barbuda, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin. You could actually see how the rivers had flooded their banks destroying whole towns. Nearly 10 hours of continuous rainfall resulted in mudslides and overflown rivers across the mountainous country, damaging many cities along the southern coastline, including the capital. [68] In addition to the flooding, the remnants of Georges spawned numerous tornadoes across the state of Georgia. The storm made landfall three days later near Biloxi, Mississippi with winds of 105mph (169km/h). The most devastating tornado touched-down in Enterprise, causing severe damage to Camp Wiregrass and a few homes, while many residences in the city were left without electricity after numerous power lines were downed. Rains of 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) were forecast for the Dominican Republic, with up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in places. [1] The civil defense, national emergency response team, the Red Cross, police, firefighters and the Health Ministry were dispatched for Hurricane Georges preparations. Due to extensive preparations, only one direct death was attributed to the storm. 70%,or 112, of bridges in the Dominican Republic were destroyed. [4][5], Due to initial forecasts of the hurricane brushing the northern portion of the country, the Dominican Republic was caught off guard. The majority of those who did leave went to a relative's house in a safer portion of the state. Hurricane Georges began as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa during mid-September 1998. It continued to the west-northwest, and struck Key West later on September 25 with winds of 105mph (165km/h). [18] Repairs had been made to the roofs, crops (plantains, poultry, coffee, and sugar cane), and transportation system. [35] Heavy wind damage and flooding caused extensive damage to the airport in Santo Domingo, restricting usage to military and non-commercial flights. response is not expected in the eastern Caribbean; however, other lifesaving [41][42] Lack of electricity led to a total disruption of Haiti's water supply system, causing a decrease in sanitary conditions across the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.. Rights and Diversity, Open Hurricane Georges struck the eastern Caribbean (St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda) on September 20 and 21 and the Dominican Republic and Haiti on September 22. [1], As Hurricane Georges proceeded westward, the National Hurricane Center issued a Hurricane Watch for the island late on September 20. Despite being a popular holiday destination, the Dominican Republic is a country steeped in poverty - major advances in the tourism industry have only added further to the divide between the rich and poor. Several rivers and creeks in the western Florida Panhandle reached record or near-record levels, including the Blackwater River at Baker, the Yellow River at Milligan, and the Shoal River at Crestview. BHR/OFDA assessment activities have ended [50] Hundreds of homes along these rivers were flooded, with at least 200homes damaged in Santa Rosa County and at least 639homes damaged and 7others destroyed in Escambia County. sales will be used to advance the U.S. Embassy's long-term recovery plan. are damaged - as are many businesses in Antigua and one school and two Up to 80% of banana plantations were lost, while vegetable, roots, tubers, and other food crops were ruined. The most amazing thing to methe most gratifying thingis that by the time the first flight had returned, the news had gotten out in the local Dominican media and people were coming from everywhere to try to help. They had no idea what to do. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. By Newsweek Archives On 9/8/17 at 1:55 PM EDT. affected individuals as a result of the hurricane. [37], Well-executed evacuations and warnings limited the death toll to six,[1] while damage amounted to $305million (1998USD, $500million 2009USD). In Harrison County, winds downed power lines, signs, and traffic lights, while damaging some roofs. The immediate hurricane-related concerns are the provision of short-term Rainfall as high as 38.46in (977mm) was recorded, which caused devastating flooding. [13], After Georges had passed by, the Dominican government declared that waterborne diseases, malaria, and dengue fever were major health concerns. There was no major damage to the islands' medical buildings. Punta Cana, as with the whole of the Dominican Republic, lies within the Caribbean hurricane belt. Reports of hurricane-related damages [67] In the town of Lumpkin, a funnel cloud was reported but there were no damage. Georges dropped immense precipitation in the mountain regions, peaking at 30.51in (775mm) in Jayuya with many other locations reporting at least 1ft (300mm) of precipitation. Several other locations reported over a foot (300mm) of precipitation as well. [1], Conditions became nearly ideal for continued development, including warm water temperatures, low-level inflow to the hurricane's north, and good upper-level outflow. Hurricane Georges began as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa during mid-September 1998. [1], In the days prior to the hurricane's arrival, thousands of citizens in the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico prepared for the major hurricane by boarding windows and purchasing supplies. Upon making landfall, Hurricane Georges brought a storm surge of up to 8.9ft (2.7m) in Biloxi. that are being conducted by the respective U.S. Embassies. By September25, Georges entered the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. USAID Administrator Brian Atwood announced in Port Au Prince on [37], Death toll reports were slow in the wake of the storm, but a total of 380people died from Hurricane Georges and leaving more than 185,000 homeless. [59], One location observed hurricane-force winds, with a sustained wind speed of 75mph (121km/h) at Keesler Air Force Base. Houston, TX warning73 Cloudy. Hurricane warnings for the Caribbean Islands: C a r i b a t i o n service for travelers to Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico. [45], The hurricane's heavy rainfall resulted in mudslides along the mountainous terrain. Schiller Park, IL (60176) warning38 Fog. Roads were rendered impassible, and beaches eroded due to heavy flooding. As in other affected countries, the storm has curtailed IE 11 is not supported. metric tons of wheat, and $12 million for the promotion of economic ties [5], After Georges passed over the Dominican Republic, 438 people were confirmed dead or missing with another 155,000 people to be homeless. No deaths had been reported, but authorities in the U.S. territory said it was. 500,000 people were left injured. team conducted a damage survey, reviewed current needs, oversaw BHR/OFDA The assessment 29in (740mm) rainfall accumulation was recorded. About six hours later, the hurricane warning issued on September19 was extended on September20 to include islands north and west of Dominica until Puerto Rico. We flew out into one of the worst hit areas and dropped the food. Future are also damaged, and many beaches are eroded. Georges killed 604people, mainly on the island of Hispaniola, caused extensive damage resulting at just under $10billion (1998 US dollars) in damages and leaving nearly neatly 500,000 homeless in St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and Cuba. Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. most affected countries) before life returns to a completely normal state. One This figure includes assistance already provided, On both islands, MORE: Entire island of Puerto Rico loses power as Hurricane Fiona makes . After pounding Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Hurricane Fiona has strengthened and is forecast to pass near or to the east of the Turks and Caicos early Tuesday. small municipal water pumps, and seeds for replanting in the southwestern On September18, the National Disaster Preparedness Committee in Dominica began meetings to prepare for possible impacts from Georges. [26] A total of 20 homes were destroyed and 50 others sustained damage. In Alabama, 25ft (7.6m) high waves were recorded. rolls of plastic sheeting, 100 body bags, 2,000 five-gallon water jugs, On September 23, BHR/OFDA received disaster The damage done by the hurricane had a serious impact on the economy, as much of the main sources of production were destroyed and many of the island's inhabitants had been forced to move from their homes. Georges's waves overturned two boats in Key West,[8] damaged 1,536houses, and destroyed 173homes, many of which were mobile homes. A six-person [66] Stewart County, received over 5 inches (130mm) of rain which caused extensive flooding that left several roads impassable. Thousands of houses were destroyed, while many were completely destroyed from the flooding and winds. [19] The World Bank had concluded that a lack of emergency management skills were used during Hurricane Georges. [54] The strongest tornado, rated F2 on the Fujita scale, touched-down in Suwannee County near Live Oak, destroying 1mobile home,[55] 7homes,[56] and 12cars,[55] while 5other structures suffered damage. [57] Five people were injured and damage from the tornado reached over $1million. C a r i b a t i o n assumes no liability. - Hurricane Fiona made landfall along the coast of the Dominican Republic on Monday, the National Hurricane Center said, after the storm tore through Puerto Rico. [7], Initial forecasts of a southeastern Florida landfall forced over 1.2million to evacuate, including much of the Florida Keys. After pounding Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Hurricane Fiona has strengthened and is forecast to pass near or to the east of the Turks and Caicos early Tuesday. 200 rolls of plastic sheeting, 1,000 five-gallon water jugs, and 5,000 [44] The country requested food assistance in the aftermath of the hurricane to alleviate the serious losses. The damage was extensive. Hurricane David Spared Florida in 1979 but Destroyed the Dominican Republic. severely affected. [1], In Antigua, strong winds caused severe property damage, mostly caused to roofs. [9], In the northern Gulf of Mexico, Georges was forecast to attain major hurricane status and make landfall in southeastern Louisiana. Rainfall amounted to a maximum of 8.41in (210mm) in Tavernier, while other locations reported lesser amounts. and 134,836 displaced persons in the Dominican Republic. Some of those who remained to ride out the storm were shrimpers, whose boats were their entire livelihood. of building structures, roadways and bridges, public utilities, and the [50] The storm surge and waves flattened about 1,125ft (343m) of dunes. Rainfall accumulating to about 7 inches (180mm) closed several roads across multiple counties. Vulnerability reduction will be [10], The BHR/OFDA assisted in helping out the Dominican Republic to repair after Georges. Further USG [10] High winds downed nearly half of the island's electric and telephone lines, leaving 96% of the population powerless and 8.4% of telephone customers without service. On September 22, 1998, Hurricane Georges hit the Dominican Republic. and in need of proper sanitation. Some roads were completely washed away. are seeking refuge with friends and relatives). The hurricane did serious damage to the infrastructure of the country: Homes, roads, bridges, dams, and airports were destroyed or were seriously damaged. Our interactive map allows you to see the local & national weather are destroyed. 3, Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update, "Puerto Rico Tallies up Devastation from Hurricane Maria", "Impact situation report #2 Hurricane Georges", "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary", "Caribbean: Hurricane Georges OFDA-09: Fact Sheet #9", "United States Virgin Islands Event Report: Hurricane", "Georges Pummels Caribbean, Florida Keys, and U.S. Gulf Coast", "FEMA News Photo taken on 09/24/1998 in US Virgin Islands", "Hurricane Georges Preliminary Storm Report", "Hurricane Georges hits Puerto Rico and moves on", "Hurricane Georges September 19 October 1, 1998", "Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges Puerto Rico, September 1998", "Updates from the Islands: Georges Dominican Republic", Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, "Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Haiti Hurricane Georges Fact Sheet #2", "Hurricane "Georges" Causes Extensive Crop Damage in Caribbean Countries", Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, "Hurricane Georges and the Dominican Republic", "The Impact of Hurricane Georges on the area of Belle-Anse, Haiti", "Impact Situation Report Hurricane Georges Republic of Haiti", "Eastern Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Haiti Hurricane Georges Fact Sheet #9, Fiscal Year (FY) 1999", "Hurricane Georges Public Advisory Number 35", Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, "Cuba: 4 dead; thousands left without homes", "Gulf Coast damage estimates trickle in for Georges", Hurricane Earl and Hurricane Georges Beach and Dune Erosion and Structural Damage Assessment and Post-storm Recovery Plan for the Panhandle Coast of Florida, "Residents near rivers start cleaning up soggy homes", "Panhandle totals damages as region begins to dry out", "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena", "Flood Observations: Damages and Successes", "Life goes on in the wake of Hurricane Georges", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, HPC Georges Rainfall Report for the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hurricane_Georges&oldid=1141246028, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 02:49. The hurricane season in the Caribbean begins on June 1st and finishes in November. of water. Maximum sustained. We had people who were experienced in community organization, spoke Spanish, were well-educated, and could step forward and do some things. The storm killed one person in St Lucia, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. It was a hugely emotional moment. In Florida, high storm surge caused flooding. Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, Connect With a Corps Volunteer, Peace 25 for the delivery of relief supplies to Antigua and the forward shipment FEMA brought about temporary roofing for those whose roofs were torn apart. As a result, malaria, cholera, Extensive storm surge flooding also occurred along Mobile Bay. [70] It was replaced with Gaston in the 2004 season. [22], In the other part of the country, Nevis fared better. also contributed $150,000 to PAHO's appeal for emergency assistance to Missions in Santo Domingo and Port Au Prince will assume responsibility Maximum sustained winds at landfall are estimated to be 90 . The death toll is almost certain to rise You experience enormous amounts of generosity during a disaster like this. the supply of electricity and water is curtailed and phone services are Most of the country's significant crop land, including Artibonite Valley, suffered total losses. is in need of some repair. Hurricane Georges struck the eastern While the tiny, square-mile Little Corn island was devastated by Hurricane Joan in 1988 and experienced damages from Hurricane Eta and Iota in 2020, the overall frequency of extremely severe hurricanes is comparatively low. By September 19, an upper-level anticyclone was well established over Georges and satellite pictures suggested that the hurricane was beginning to strengthen rapidly, as indicated by the cooling cloud tops, increased symmetry of the deep convection, and the warming and contracting of the well-defined 40mi (63km) wide eye as rapid intensification continued, and Georges peaked as a very dangerous and a high-end Category 4 storm with 155mph (250km/h) wind and a 937 minimal pressure late on September 19 and early September 20. needs within the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Several power lines were downed throughout St. Croix by high winds, leaving some residences without power. Life-threatening surf also was possible from Fiona's winds . For the following two days, the island was placed under a state of high-alert as direct impact from a Category 4 hurricane was anticipated. Hurricane Georges making landfall in the Dominican Republic, Effects of Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic, Meteorological history of Hurricane Georges, Effects of Hurricane Georges in the Lesser Antilles, "Hurricane Georges strikes Dominican Republic; Haiti alert", "Hurricane Georges's Landfall in the Dominican Republic: Detailed Airborne Doppler Radar Imagery", "Personal Accounts of Damage in Dominican Republic", "Hurricane Georges sweeps Dominican Republic, 100 dead", "Caribbean's poor hardest hit by Hurricane Georges", "Georges Pummels Caribbean, Florida Keys, and U.S. Gulf Coast", "Caribbean: Hurricane Georges OFDA-05: Fact Sheet #5", "Caribbean: Hurricane Georges OFDA-07: Fact Sheet #7", "Caribbean: Hurricane Georges OFDA-09: Fact Sheet #9", "Dominican Republic-Hurricane George Emergency Recovery Project", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Effects_of_Hurricane_Georges_in_the_Dominican_Republic&oldid=1138132026, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 05:04. Corps Response, Diversity, of Santo Domingo and to the east, most flood damage to homes is in the Because St. Kitts relies the main terminal and control tower. "We did it when Hurricane George hit the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and we will do it once again," he said. Puerto Rican governor Pedro Rossell activated the island's National Guard, opened 416shelters, and enacted a temporary prohibition on alcohol sales. conservatively estimates $260 million worth of damage or 90% destruction [8] The islands, some only 7ft (2m) high and 300yds (275m) wide, flooded easily. Slow going on the New York City-bound George Washington Bridge as Hurricane Floyd deluges the area, August 26, 1999.