Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
We were forced to flee plush resort
Two Monklands couples were forced to evacuate their hotel in the Dominican Republic as Hurricane Irma ripped through the picturesque Caribbean islands.
Coatbridge pair Alison McClurg and Colin Crawford are currently on holiday with their friends, Airdrie couple Nicola Morgan and Jamie Logan.
But the category five storm brought devastation to the popular holiday island last Thursday, with the quartet having to flee more than 100 miles after their plush hotel resort was placed on“red alert.”
Alison explained:“The whole experience was a horrendous time for the four of us.
“We were given a notification through our room door that we should prepare our belongings in case an evacuation was required.
“Two hours later another letter was posted underneath but at the time we were down at dinner feeling extremely stressed and anxious.
“We were telling each other that it wouldn’t come to that and that it would all be okay.
“But we were approached by another couple at the bar and they told us about the second letter that advised us we were being evacuated the following morning due our hotel being on red alert.”
The friends were staying on the east side of the island near the town of Bavaro, but were rushed 130 miles south-west to the capital, Santo Domingo, before Irma began to take hold.
Alison continued:“The journey to Santo Domingo took three hours and during the journey we witnessed the start of the thunder and lightning.
“It was an extremely scary situation seeing that and knowing what was just around the corner.
“As couples, we were very worried we’d end up becoming separated and the updates we were receiving were very vague.
“The hurricane caused a lot of damage on the island but we are now back safe and well in our hotel after three days away.
“We’re all just very grateful that we haven’t been badly affected by this.”