Tropical Storm Emily drenches Haiti

Heavy rains are sweeping across Haiti and the Dominican Republic as Tropical Storm Emily, which had earlier stalled to the south of the islands, begins moving again on a path that will take it over Haiti’s southwestern peninsula later today.

United Nations peacekeepers say they’re on standby to provide assistance to Haitians, as fears mount that flash floods and mudslides could bring more devastation to an island that is still struggling to recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people and displaced 2.3 million others.

The storm came to a standstill about 105 miles south-southeast of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and about 40 miles south-southwest of the Dominican Republic early this morning. But the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said in its 11 a.m. bulletin that Emily had moved as predicted towards the west-northwest, at about five miles per hour.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 miles per hour.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Haiti, the southern and northern coast of the Dominican Republic, southeastern and central Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Guantanamo and Holguin provinces in eastern Cuba. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas.

“The centre of Emily will move across the southwestern peninsula of Haiti later today and move over extreme eastern Cuba tonight or early Friday,” the NHC said. “Some weakening is possible during the next 24 hours as Emily interacts with the high terrain of Haiti and eastern Cuba. Some restrengthening is possible when the cyclone moves over the Bahamas.”

Nearly 12,000 United Nations peacekeepers are on emergency standby in Haiti. Some contingents of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which comprises 8,500 troops and 3,000 police, have already been deployed as a precautionary measure in regions that are most at risk from the storm, which is expected to hit the country overnight.

These forces are in position on the ground in Gonaïves and Les Cayes and on standby in Port-au-Prince should rescue operations be needed, and MINUSTAH has set up two crisis centres to coordinate action.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is coordinating all action that might be required from UN humanitarian agencies and their international and national partners. Food stocks, medical kits, cholera treatment kits, tents and tarpaulins have already been pre-positioned throughout the country in preparation for the hurricane season.

Last November, Hurricane Tomas caused widespread flooding, unleashing a cholera epidemic that killed hundreds and infected some 20,000 people.

In addition to the up to 20 inches of rain expected over Hispaniola, total rainfall of up to four inches is expected in the southeastern and central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Source: Caribbean360