Surviving the Storms

I just wanted to calm everyone’s fears about the current hurricanes. There have been three hurricanes in a row, but so far there has been nothing like the devastation along the coasts that last years’ hurricanes caused. The Northern beaches have been damaged in the DR, but most of the damage occurred in Haiti. My house in Jarabacoa is high and dry for the most part. The roof leaks (only in a few places) and we lose power when there is a storm, but we are quite safe. Jarabacoa is a mountainous town that is safely tucked into a valley near the highest peak in the Caribbean, which I will be climbing with my 10th and 11th graders in a few weeks. There is some flooding and the potential for damage from the coming hurricane Ike.
Doulos’s work with Reef Check to study coral reefs has also come to the attention of the Discovery Channel. Weather permitting, I will be traveling to the East coast with 7 students to run a small camp studying the reefs so that the Discovery Channel can film it. It is very exciting and I hope that everything works out. Prayers for the people along the coast that are more affected by the hurricane and for safe travels this week would be appreciated.