Dominican Republic In Ruins

There are some lucky ones. They are the survivors of the worst hurricane to hit the Dominican Republic in 20 years. CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston reports that the storm victims have shelter and food. But across this poverty-stricken nation, thousands are still waiting for help and for flood waters to recede.

Disasters are always hardest on the poor and, in a low-income neighborhood of Santo Domingo, people are waiting for some kind of assistance. Outside the capital, the situation is even worse.

Some communities have been cut off since Tuesday. Roads and bridges remain blocked in many places, power and phones are problematic, and there is little water or food.

The U.S. is joining other governments in bringing supplies and helicopters to deliver much-needed relief. Six U.S. choppers will arrive Monday.

The official death toll is now over 200 people, and the head of the U.S. aid effort says Dominican officials admit they caused some of the fatalities when they opened a dam just after the hurricane. Officials feared the dam would burst, killing more people than if it was gradually opened.

Government officials admit to being unprepared for Hurricane Georges, but say they hope their mistakes will help them prepare for the next disaster.

Written by CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston