By NAN Contributor
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Sept. 20, 2017: While many Dominicans in the US Diaspora are frantically trying to get news on their loved ones back homes, the Dominica Consulate in New York is mobilizing nationals to help.
The Consulate has launched an Emergency Relief Efforts for Dominica, which is appealing for donations of canned goods, soaps and lotions, tooth brushes, toilet paper, baby and adult pampers, baby powder, sanitizers, sleeping cots, flash lights and batteries.
The drop off locations in New York City is St. Lucia House at 438 E 49th Street in Brooklyn, NY and JAPS Auto Clinic at 770 South Columbus Avenue in Mount Vernon, NY. For more information email the Consulate Of Dominica at consulateofdominica@gmail.com or call 212-599-8478.
In Houston, a number of Dominicans have come together to host a Dominica Relief Drive this Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 in front of Riddims Night Club at 8220 W Bellfort Blvd, Houston, TX 77071 from 9 am to 4 p.m.
Boston for Dominica, a Diaspora Group in Boston, was praying for friends and family in Dominica and urging all to mobilize for Dominica today, Wednesday, 9/20 at 8 p.m. at Faith Christian Church at 301 Harvard St., Dorchester to strategize on the recovery effort.
The eye of Hurricane Maria made landfall on Monday night in Dominica. The island seems to have been cut off from communication since its Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt posted of Facebook Monday night that he was being rescued after his roof blew off and the house started flooding.
And after he said roofs everywhere were being torn off by the powerful storm’s winds.
“We will need help, my friend, we will need help of all kinds,” he said, describing the damage as “mind boggling” around midnight Monday night.
“So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace,” he added then.
Hurricane Maria moved over Guadeloupe where it left flooding and damages and one death and Martinique before continuing its march towards St. Croix, USVI and Puerto Rico. At 8 p.m. tonight the eye of the storm was 60 miles from St. Croix and 160 miles from Puerto Rico as a category five hurricane according to the National Hurricane Center.
On the forecast track, the eye of Maria will move near or over St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands tonight, cross Puerto Rico on Wednesday, and then pass just north of the coast of the Dominican Republic Wednesday night and Thursday.
