D.R. Starts Shuttering Country Ahead of Franklin

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – 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.

The storm was expected to make landfall on the island Wednesday and drop up to 10 inches of rain in both countries, with up to 15 inches in isolated areas.

A storm surge of up to three feet (one meter) also was forecast.

Dominican officials announced the closures of schools, government offices and businesses until Thursday.