DR fellow cavers and circumstances there post earthquake...

[Danseur]

Well, my family is flipping out and I'm up in the Turks and Caicos (completely unaffected), so I'll assume you guys are in the red zone with concerns, even if it didn't materialize in much damage....

so, Everybody OK?

...and any known damage to the cave systems as yet?

[FW]

I forgot the Dominican Republic was so close to Haiti. Phillip, Cristan, are you guys OK?

[phillip1]

Thanks for your concern, we are all ok I just spoke to Cristian and he is ok too. It shook heavily in Sosua on the north coast were I live yesterday, no damage but I can only imagine how it must have shook in Port Au Prince.
Santo Domingo felt it more than the north coast and my girlfriend's parents freaked out. In Charamico (near sosua and about 15 mins from my house) my girlfriend said people were running out in the street in panic.
I was here in 2003 when a 6.6 hit and the epicenter was only about 30 miles from my house and it shook more than last afternoon, but still it a disaster of monumental proportions in Haiti, Porto Principe is about 200 miles from me and even so it was shaking big time here!.

I must for once thank the rain, the only reason we were not at this new cave we found near my house with Thomas was due to the heavy rain for the past few days, I almost always end up coming out of the dives around 5-6pm when I dive near my house and that would have really sucked to be in the cave in an earthquake! I imagine that it would be instant zero viz, really really loud rumbling, and the uncertainty of a collapse you can't even see.

As for damage we are planing to dive this week end as the rain is supposed to stop, definitely next week. I am assuming that the Santo Domingo breakdown type caves (Cueva Taina A tunnel, Jardin Oriental, El Tildo) might have some damage I will post a report as soon as I get any info. There are a few caves by my house we dive that involve unstable looking dry caving access that may have some damage.

This cave collapse/earthquake risk is always in the back of my mind when I dive here, I think the risk is very small but I am now sitting safely behind my computer writing this, and soon enough I will be looking up at house sized boulders that look like they are just waiting for me to swim under to fall...

[hfig]

Prayers sent to all those who lost loved ones and are suffering. My family and I will continue to pray for a quick recovery.

[FW]

Thanks for your concern, we are all ok ..

I am glad you are OK, and I agree with hfig, we all are wishing the best for everyone in the area.

[Gibby]

Very cool Red cross effort...its legit

Haiti Earthquake Donations
To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text Haiti to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill.

The organization is also accepting donations through its International Response Fund,http://www.redcross.org

[phillip1]

from the news we get here this is a major major disaster, Haitian tv is reporting that most of port au prince is destroyed, not to mention the rest of Haiti and neighboring towns that are also devastated. My gardener is from Haiti and we were talking this morning, thankfully his family is ok, they live just outside Port Au Prince, they told him that it looks like a war zone and the entire neighborhood is mostly destroyed.

[FW]

I hear there was a big aftershock in Haiti. Anything in DR?

[Danseur]

!beat me to it!

I was just wondering that this morning.

6.1 @6am, 36 miles W-SW of Port-au-Prince, and very shallow as well again.

Yikes. Then the riots aparently started....

[phillip1]

we did not feel anything here at all. so far no reported damage in any caves. I will be diving the caves near my house this week end and post a report. I have not been diving waves have been really good but I do not think any damage happened.