Hurricane Georges crossed some islands , Puerto Rico , Hispaniola , and Cuba , before it made landfall in Mississippi . Georges killed 604 people and caused $ 5.9 billion in damage , much of it from high winds and severe flooding . Georges killed 604 people , mainly on the island of Hispaniola , and caused extensive damage resulting at nearly $ 6 billion ( 1998 US dollars , $ 8 billion 2010 USD ) in damages , mostly in St. Kitts and Nevis , Puerto Rico and Hispaniola .