Hurricane Fiona

The team continues to prepare for the assessment in Puerto Rico. We’ve reached out to partners on the ground to gather more information and confirm logistics. More information about our response can be found on our Hurricane Fiona Program Page or you can support those impacted today.

Our DART is on their way to Puerto Rico to assess the impacts of Hurricane Fiona. The team of seven will arrive on the island this Friday, September 23, and will be there for a minimum of two weeks working closely with ProTechos who we worked alongside during the floods earlier this year. We expect our assessment to confirm our scope of work to include mucking and gutting and chainsawing and we will potentially coordinate day volunteers to support this work. Donate to support those impacted.

Heavy rains are forecasted to continue, producing dangerous flooding along with the possibility of mudslides in Puerto Rico throughout the afternoon into the night. All Hands and Hearts is remotely assessing the situation. Donate to support those impacted.

Hurricane Fiona has made landfall along the coast of the Dominican Republic near Boca de Yuma, just 15 miles west-southwest of Punta Cana moving at a speed of 8mph. There remains a Tropical Storm Warning for Puerto Rico as heavy rain from the outer bands will continue into this afternoon. Some areas of southern Puerto Rico can expect to see an additional 4-10 inches of rain, bringing the total to 30 inches in some places. All Hands and Hearts is closely monitoring the situation to identify potential areas of support.

Fiona has strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane and is currently southeast of Puerto Rico where it is anticipated to make landfall later today. It is already bringing heavy wind and rain to Puerto Rico and the area is under a hurricane warning. It is anticipated to strengthen as it moves north of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and may later affect Turks and Caicos and the Southeast Bahamas. The team in the Bahamas is aware of and monitoring potential impacts from the storm.  All Hands and Hearts continues to monitor the developing situation.

Although Fionia is not forecasted to turn towards the continental U.S., we continue to monitor predictions as the weekend progresses. We are monitoring the storm and its potential impacts on all affected areas of the Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Fiona is moving towards Puerto Rico today with heavy rains and possible hurricane conditions as it likely produces considerable flood impacts including flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides in higher terrain. It is also expected to spread tropical storm conditions westward to the US and the British Virgin Islands later today. These tropical storm conditions will reach the Dominican Republic by Sunday night. Fiona is forecasted to strengthen through Monday as it turns northeast skirting the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. While this is only the 6th named storm of the season, we had seen 20 named storms by this time last year.

Tropical Storm Fiona is moving westward at roughly 15 mph, with heavy rains expected to reach the Leeward islands by Friday evening. Tropical storm conditions are to be expected through the weekend.