Well, just when things started to dry out from Hurricane Noel, the island of Hispaniola (shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti) was pounded with a second wave of rain and wind from Hurricane Olga. This time the devastation was much worse as much of the land was previously eroded from Noel.

Below is an article that I found from the Associated Press that really paints the picture on the lack of communication and hurricane preparation in the Dominican Republic.

You can read the original article here:
HURRICANE OLGA SURVIVORS COMPLAIN OF LATE WARNING

You can view some raw footage shot by a G.O. Ministries pastor here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVdH674_gsY

HURRICANE OLGA SURVIVORS COMPLAIN OF LATE WARNING
Updated Thu. Dec. 13 2007 8:37 PM ET

The Associated Press

SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic -- Survivors of a devastating flood lashed out at authorities Thursday for not warning that a dam's floodgates were being opened during Tropical Storm Olga, unleashing a deadly wall of water that killed as many as 20 people.

President Leonel Fernandez, who promised aid while touring the area to view the destruction, did not comment on the decision to rapidly release the water. He blamed global warming for the rare December storm with torrential rains.

The death toll stood at 25 across the Caribbean, including two other deaths in the Dominican Republic, two in northern Haiti and one in Puerto Rico.

As Olga began lashing the Dominican Republic with rain Tuesday, officials slowly released water from the Tavera Dam into the Yaque River, Octavio Rodriguez, a member of the committee that oversees dams during emergencies, told The Associated Press.

But fearing a dam failure that could kill thousands in Santiago, the country's second-largest city, the panel decided around 11 p.m. Tuesday to open all six floodgates an hour later, gushing 1.6 million gallons of water every second into the river.

The late-night decision gave authorities too little time to warn people living downriver -- many of them already in bed.

Police and local officials took to the streets as midnight approached to warn that a devastating flood was on its way. But many people said they had just 15 minutes -- or less -- to flee before a wave of water 66-feet deep slammed into their homes.

"They warned us but there was no time ... everybody was sleeping," said 50-year-old Sonia Duran Maldonado, her voice shaking. "They must beg our forgiveness for what has happened."

On Thursday, dazed residents wandered through muddy wreckage of their brick homes, strewn along the flat river bank.

A woman sat on the front steps to her house -- stairs rising to emptiness where the structure had stood. On another street, the back of an SUV was snagged in a second-floor window of an apartment building after being tossed there by the raging water.

Orlando Franco, a senior engineering professor at Santiago's Pontifica Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, said authorities released too much water and failed to have an effective alarm system in place.

"If there was a proper alarm system, this would not have happened. There would not have been a single death," Franco said.

Rodriguez, the dam committee member, said the panel was aware of the danger but was forced to release the water to avoid a collapse of the dam as rapidly accumulating water built up pressure behind it.

"We knew the damage we were going to cause below. We did not want to, but we had to," he said.

Olga weakened to a tropical depression and began to break apart as it moved west toward Cuba on Thursday, continuing to drop rain from outer bands over that island and the Bahamas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

Dominican emergency authorities searched for the dead in Santiago province, where at least 20 fatalities were confirmed. Homes were filled with mud and people looted some residences looking for food or supplies.

The storm displaced more than 34,000 people and damaged more than 7,500 houses, Dominican officials reported.

An elderly woman and a 3-year-old boy were killed in northern Haiti, where poor infrastructure could delay reporting on the storm's aftermath for days, said Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, head of Haiti's civil protection department.

In Puerto Rico, a rain-triggered avalanche buried an SUV, killing a passenger.

Olga was only the 10th named storm to develop in the month of December since record-keeping began in 1851, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. It passed through the Dominican Republic two weeks after the Atlantic hurricane season officially ended, and six weeks after Tropical Storm Noel left 87 dead.

Olga will be included in the tally for the 2007 hurricane season, bringing the number of named storms to 15, including six hurricanes. The next season begins June 1.

A DOMINICAN CHRISTMAS RECIEPE.

Té Jengibre / Ginger Tea
This is a traditional Christmas drink. It is said to keep you warm on those cold, tropical Dominican nights (that is a joke). It is a staple for the winter months.

Boil about 5 cups of water and add 8 cinnamon sticks. Boil until the color of the water is a very light brown and it has a little cinnamon flavor, maybe about 5 minutes.
Add about 1/2 cup of pealed, thinly sliced ginger to the cinnamon water. Simmer together for about 5 more minutes adding water as some evaporates.
Strain and add sugar. You can add the sugar to the mix or add it to the cups separately.

The smell is wonderful. It is truly a warming drink. Served sweet, Dominican style it is heavenly.

DOMINICAN CHRISTMAS DECORATION. The Christmas tree in Dominican Republic, in general, is white. I presume the people want to give the illusion of snow. Since they see green year round, white brings a level of festivity.

Another adornment is the Flor de Pascua (Poinsettia). This traditional flower is also known as its Christmas name Estrella de Navidad, translated the Star of the Birth of Christ. This flower is known and loved in many parts of the world, however the difference in Dominican Republic is that it grows outside and the flower can get quite large.

Another Dominican decorating tradition is the lightning and decorating of the Charamicos (which in Dominican slang is a dry tree branch). These items are Dominican folk art and can be found in abundance around the country during the Christmas season. One can see them being made and sold in the streets. These decorations are fashioned from straw, tree branches and pliable wood. They are made in the form of angels, cows, deer, some giraffe looking animals, pots, and wreaths. The nicer ones are painted in white and adorned with balls, ribbons and lights.

Another decoration is the traditional Nacimiento (Nativity Scene). It's refreshing to see around the country, in front of stores and at Government buildings.

DOMINICAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS. Fuegos artificiales (Fireworks) are a momentous tradition in Dominican Republic. Children and adults love shooting off cohetes y petardos (rockets) and firecrackers of all types. Hospitals are especially busy mending burnt and mangled fingers of people that get a bit carried away with the fireworks. There are stands all over the country selling these festive and dangerous toys to light the sky or to make a big bang . In this way the season is celebrated with a bang!

Most businesses close around 6:00 PM on Christmas Eve and some don't open at all on this day. This gives families the opportunity to spend time together for the big celebration of food and drink.

The main celebration happens on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve, December 24th). This is when the big family dinners are held and people really enjoy the big celebration. Most people return to their home towns in order to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Not to mention, most Dominicans love their mothers or aunts cooking! This family gathering is the center of the holiday festivity. December 25th is just a day to recuperate.

Some people go to church on Christmas Eve. This service is called La Misa del Gallo. It's a Midnight Mass traditional type service. There is also a mass on Christmas Day usually held at 12 noon for those who didn't make it to the Midnight mass or for those that like to go to both.

Dominicans enjoy a tradition called Un Angelito (A Little Angel) or gift exchange! This is practiced by all the social classes. All the names of the participants are placed in a sack. Then a name is selected from the bunch. The person whose name you chose is your Angelito (Little Angel). Every week during the Christmas holiday you are to give that person, whose name you chose, a gift. The identity of your Angelito is to be kept secret until the last day of the gift exchange where you must reveal yourself.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from all the people in the Dominican Republic! It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by and we’re already looking toward 2008.

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we sometimes forget what Christmas is all about. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to THANK YOU for all your generous support. Really…without you, this ministry would not be possible and many people around the world would not be reached.

It’s been four months since I dedicated my life to serving others through mission work, and I am so happy to report that, together, we’ve already made a big splash. For many Dominicans, 2007 was a challenging year. The economy was severely impacted by Hurricane Noel; and many people lost loved ones and their homes. CBS News called Hurricane Noel “the worst storm the Dominican Republic has ever seen.”

Despite this tragedy, your partnership and financial support allowed for many people to be blessed this year. Here are just some of the things you were involved in by partnering with me:

• 180 people were given refuge and hot food in our dormitory during Hurricane Noel
• 350 students were able to attend the G.O. Ministries private school
• 250+ children were given a warm meal each day (six days per week)
• Significant progress was made on the building of three additional nutrition centers
• 570 Americans were able to participate in a short-term mission trip
• G.O. Ministries now partners with more than 120 nationals in 7 countries
• …and much, much more!

As we look toward 2008, I’d like to ask that you reflect on the many blessings God provided you and your family this year. And, if He’s put it on your heart to share those blessings, I’d like to ask that you continue to bless others around the world with a special year-end gift. Simply click here to download the giving form.