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Caribbean Hurricane Season 4 September 2008

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Caribbean Hurricane Season 4 September 2008 Caribbean Hurricane Season Report No.7 Page 1 Situation Report 7 – Caribbean Hurricane Season 4 September 2008 This situation report is based on information received from, the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in the affected countries, the Regional Office in Panama and the National Hurricane Centre. HIGHLIGHTS • The Government of Haiti has officially requested international assistance and a Flash Appeal is being prepared. “Hanna” has already claimed 90 lives in Haiti. • Following the passage of Hurricane “Gustav”, power supply and roofing repair are the most pressing needs in Cuba. • Hurricane “Ike “ has been upgraded to a Category IV hurricane and may threaten Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica. SITUATION 1. On 25 August, a tropical depression in the Caribbean strengthened into Tropical Storm “Gustav” and made landfall in Haiti as a Category I hurricane on 26 August. On 30 August, “Gustav” became a Category IV and made landfall on Cuba’s Island of Youth and Pinar del Rio Province. It then continued through the Gulf of Mexico threatening Caribbean Hurricane Season Report No.7 Page 2 the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi in the United States. “Gustav” has affected Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba and the United States. 2. Upgraded earlier to a Category I hurricane, the centre of tropical storm “Hanna” continues wetwards and should be moving through or just east of the Central and Northwestern Bahamas and will be near the south east coast of the United Staes by Friday. “Hanna” could regain hurricane strength on Friday prior to reaching the coastline and is expected to produce rainfall totals of four to eight inches with maximum isolated amounts of 12 inches over the southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Eastern Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Coastal storm surge flooding of one to three feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore flow within the hurricane warning area. 3. Meanwhile, Hurricane “Ike” was upgraded to a Category IV hurricane and was located about 885 km east- northeast of the Leeward Islands. This general motion is expected to continue through Thursday followed by a turn to the west and west-southwest on Friday taking “Ike” over the open waters of the west-central Atlantic during the next few days. It is too early to determine what land area might be directly affected by “Ike”. 4. Tropical Storm “Josephine” is weakening over the eastern Atlantic and is about 840 km west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. HAITI 5. A few days after being struck by Hurricane “Gustav”, Haiti was unexpectedly hit by tropical storm “Hanna” on 1 September. No previous warning had been issued as “Hanna” was expected to pass north of Haiti. On 3 September, weather conditions improved slightly in some parts of the country, rendering gradual access to the affected population. The airport in Port-au-Prince reopened on 3 September allowing search and rescue operations to be undertaken. Initial assessments have commenced while only limited humanitarian assistance has reached affected populations. 6. While there is no clarity on the number of casualties, informal government figures indicate at least 90 dead as a result of “Hanna” and some 250,000 affected persons in Gonaives only. It is increasingly evident that the situation in the country is dire. According to the Direction de Protection Civil (DPC), nine out of the 10 Districts in Haiti are seriously affected due to the combined impact of tropical storms “Gustav” and Hanna.” Haitian authorities are maintaining a heightened state of alert in seven Districts, mostly located in the north. Heavy flooding was reported in the following cities: Gonaïves (Artibonite District), Port de Paix (Northwest District), Cap Haitien (North District), Hinche (Central District), Miragoane (Nippes District), Jacmel (Southeast District), Les Cayes (South District), Grand Goâve (West District). 7. The situation today is further complicated by the large areas affected and it is likely that the short and mid-term impact on food security in Haiti will be considerable. 8. With limited access to Gonaïves/Artibonite, no reliable information on damage and humanitarian needs are yet available with the Haitian Red Cross carrying out an initial airborne assessment on 3 September. Almost everyone living in the city has lost their personal belongings for the second time in four years and Gonaives is now suffering its second severe social and economic blow. Although mortality and injury figures are not yet available, loss of life seems to be lower than feared with the Communal Committee quick to evacuate the population to pre-identified shelters. The roads between Saint Marc and Gonaives and cap-Haitian and Gonaives are blocked by fallen trees, preventing road access for humanitarian relief. 9. In Nippes District, some 52 people are currently in sheltered in Miragoane and have received food from WFP distributed by the DPC (three-day ration). The Miragoane-Port au Prince Bridge remains passable with caution. In the South District, some 2,000 people are in shelters. In Les Cayes, some 1,250 people received food rations funded by the DDPC which were distributed by CRS and Caritas. OPS/OMS will visit the shelters on the 3 September in order to assess medical needs. In the South East District, heavy rains were reported on 2 September, particularly affecting the town of Cayes Jacmel which had already been flooded in the aftermath of “Gustav”. In Grand Anse District, heavy rains were Caribbean Hurricane Season Report No.7 Page 3 reported since 1 September. According to IOM the number of people in shelters is increasing, with 1,170 people currently located in seven temporary shelters. The majority of temporary shelters are schools. Some 400 people are in two shelters in Jeremie. 10. All northern districts are slightly affected by hurricane “Hanna”. HDCS and Civil Affairs visited the town of Fort- Liberté particularly zones most at risk (Concilia, Cicar and la Victoire) and noted that the situation in these areas was stable. Heavy winds were reported in the village of Roche Plate and Bassin Tounen where the roofs of 120 houses were damaged. The UNPOL team was unable to access the region to evaluate damage. Flooding of the river Disman is the main cause of damages in the region. 11. In the Central District, Hinche (the most affected commune of the District), Cité Nolas, Bas-Cimetière, La Marone, Rivage (Kokoye) and Cité du Peuple are the most affected zones. The number of flooded houses has not yet been determined. The MINUSTAH Communication Centre (ComCen) in Hinche advised that water levels in Hinche were rising. Flooding has been reported in the communes of Thomassique Cerca La Source, Cerca Carvajal and Maissade where gardens and livestock have been lost. Reliable figures on affected persons and damage remain unknown. 12. The international humanitarian community continue to organize response efforts, with UN agencies strengthening their staff capacity. Sectoral meetings continue to take place on a daily basis and a major UN-NGOs coordination meeting has planned assessments and emergency response actions. Additional UN staff arrived in Gonaives on 3 September, notably from MUINUSTAH. The military are also assisting in the evacuation of affected persons. 13. Following a request from the UNRC/HC on 3 September, an UNDAC team was deployed. The eight-member team includes coordination and assessments specialists, the French NGO Telecoms Sans Frontières and members of the British NGO Map Action. In addition to the UNDAC team, other international support teams have been deployed. Since 28 August, a three-person USAID/OFDA assessment team, deployed for Hurricane “Gustav” will remain in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. USAID has allocated USD 100,000 to Haiti. Switzerland pledged CHF 1.15 million help Haiti hurricane victims. The SDC Cooperation Office in Port-au Prince is working closely with the local authorities and partner organisations to assess what the region's most urgent needs are and to decide on what humanitarian aid Switzerland could provide. The IFRC has also deployed a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT). UN Agencies in situ are receiving additional support from their regional office. All partners are invited to coordinate and share their assessments results at the next humanitarian coordination meeting at WHO on Friday, 5 September at 1600. Sectoral Coordination Shelter and Non-Food Items 14. All partners are currently working on needs assessments with the available data to be compiled: initial data indicates a need for construction kits. OFDA is scheduled to supply 5,000 hygiene kits, 500 plastic sheeting and some 10,000 jerry cans by 4 September. Most of these emergency relief items will be distributed in the South East, South and Nippes Districts. Gonaïves will also benefit from the OFDA supplies. UNICEF Haiti sent an emergency request for supply from its Copenhagen’s warehouse. The shipment will arrive by air and will arrive in 72 hours. UNICEF has made supplies available from the emergency pre-positioning programmes in Port-de-Paix, Cap Haitien and Les Cayes and is sending the hygiene kits originally destined to Bainet (South-East) to Gonaives where needs are more urgent. Health 15. A second sectoral health meeting took place on 3 September. Needs assessments in the North, North West and Artibonite Districts are currently being carried out by PAHO/MSPP. Results are expected by 4 September. In Artibonite, St. Marc Hospital is open and functioning. It is being reinforced by a Cuban brigade and medicine and surgical equipment provided by PAHO. In Gonaives, 18 patients in a flooded hospital are being evacuated. A MSF medical team is currently being deployed to the health centre of Raboteau, in the north of Gonaives.
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