Tropical Storm Franklin nears the Dominican Republic and Haiti bringing torrential rain

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Authorities in the Dominican Republic shut schools and government offices Tuesday as Tropical Storm Franklin took aim at the island of Hispaniola that it shares with Haiti and threatened to unleash landslides and heavy floods. The storm had maximum winds of 40 mph by Tuesday night and was located 175 miles southwest of Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. They have the words, but they don’t have the power to get it done.” On Tuesday afternoon, Haiti’s civil protection director Jerry Chandler said crews were mobilizing to help displaced people living in shelters or on the street, saying they needed to be “extremely careful.” Prime Minister Ariel Henry also urged caution and warned people to stock up on water, food and medication and to stay out of the water until Thursday. “I know there are a lot of people who are worried, but we need to have confidence that we will act fast if necessary.” A tropical storm warning was in effect for the entire southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as well as the entire northern Dominican coast.