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Hurricane Matthew, Closing In on Haiti, Could Be ‘Catastrophic’ Haiti Braces for Catastrophe as Hurricane Matthew Makes Landfall
(35 minutes later)
Haiti braced for a catastrophe early Tuesday as Hurricane Matthew, a dangerous Category 4 storm, edged closer to the nation’s south, bringing winds of up to 140 miles an hour and rainfall that could exceed three feet in some areas. Haiti braced for a possible catastrophe on Tuesday as Hurricane Matthew, a dangerous Category 4 storm, made landfall, delivering winds of up to 145 miles an hour and rainfall that could exceed three feet in some areas.
“Haiti is in deep, deep trouble tonight,” said Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami. “The potential for Haiti is what I would describe as catastrophic.” The storm made landfall around 7 a.m. near the town of Les Anglais, in western Haiti. The eye of the storm was expected to move near eastern Cuba later on Tuesday and to deliver torrential rains and powerful gusts there. The storm is expected to retain its intensity until at least Wednesday night.
In addition to damaging winds, the storm is expected to cause flash floods and landslides, a deadly challenge for Haiti. As the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is still recovering from an earthquake that devastated it in 2010, and it has limited resources to respond to another large-scale natural disaster. “Haiti is in deep, deep trouble tonight,” Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said on Monday evening. “The potential for Haiti is what I would describe as catastrophic.”
The hurricane is expected to cross over Haiti on Tuesday en route to Cuba and the Bahamas. Flooding and extreme rainfall and wind are expected in those countries as well. Jamaica, initially forecast to bear the brunt of the damage, appears to have been spared the worst of the hurricane. Heavy rains and damaging winds were expected across a number of island nations, including Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. “Life-threatening flash floods and mudslides are likely from this rainfall in southern and northwestern Haiti, the southwestern Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba,” the hurricane center warned.
The hurricane is striking at a particularly difficult time for Haiti. The nation was planning long-delayed elections for this weekend. If large stretches of the country are inundated with water and devoid of power, and roads and other critical infrastructure are severely damaged, the likelihood of voting in a new president is low. As the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010, and it has limited resources to respond to another large-scale natural disaster.
More immediately, the storm surge, or water pressing in toward the island, is expected to be seven to 10 feet, a heavy amount for even a developed nation with the resources to combat such a storm. In Haiti, there is no protective sea wall to help blunt the encroaching tide. The hurricane is striking at a particularly difficult time for Haiti. The nation was planning long-delayed elections for this weekend. If large stretches of the country are inundated with water and are devoid of power, and if roads and other critical infrastructure are severely damaged, the likelihood of electing a new president will be low.
More immediately, the storm surge, or water pressing in toward the island, was expected to be seven to 10 feet, a huge amount for even a developed nation with the resources to combat such a storm. In Haiti, there is no protective sea wall to help blunt the encroaching tide.
Operation Blessing International, a charity that operates in Haiti, warned on Monday that an outbreak of cholera could quickly follow intense flooding.Operation Blessing International, a charity that operates in Haiti, warned on Monday that an outbreak of cholera could quickly follow intense flooding.
“Based on the rainfall predictions and how slow this storm is moving, we fear that Matthew will bring a tsunami of cholera cases unseen since post-earthquake days,” the group said in a statement.“Based on the rainfall predictions and how slow this storm is moving, we fear that Matthew will bring a tsunami of cholera cases unseen since post-earthquake days,” the group said in a statement.
As the water rolls off Haiti’s mountains, which have been broadly stripped of their trees, landslides are highly likely. While these conditions exist in much of the country, the south, where the storm is likely to hit hardest, has another disadvantage. Many resident there are subsistence farmers. Flooding will probably destroy even that. As the water rolls off Haiti’s mountains, which have been broadly stripped of their trees, landslides are highly likely. While these conditions exist in much of the country, the south, has another disadvantage. Many resident there are subsistence farmers. Flooding will probably destroy even that.
“This hurricane is hitting the worst possible place,” said Conor Shapiro, the president of the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation, which runs the largest hospital in southern Haiti.“This hurricane is hitting the worst possible place,” said Conor Shapiro, the president of the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation, which runs the largest hospital in southern Haiti.
In the south, heavy rains and winds had already arrived on Monday, prompting the evacuation of people across the region.In the south, heavy rains and winds had already arrived on Monday, prompting the evacuation of people across the region.
“My biggest concern is food supplies and basics to assist the people I have evacuated,” said Ronald Delice, the head of civil protection in the southeast of Haiti. He said his teams had relocated 800 people in 40 shelters.“My biggest concern is food supplies and basics to assist the people I have evacuated,” said Ronald Delice, the head of civil protection in the southeast of Haiti. He said his teams had relocated 800 people in 40 shelters.
In other areas, residents were resistant to leaving, fearful of abandoning belongings and their homes, in part because of robberies. In other areas, residents were resistant to leaving, fearful of abandoning belongings and their homes, in part because of robberies. Low-lying areas of the capital, often the more poverty-stricken, are especially vulnerable.
Port-au-Prince, the capital, is likely to avoid the worst of the storm, but severe wind and rain are expected there. Low-lying areas of the capital, often the more poverty-stricken, are especially vulnerable.
While the storm’s center is expected to hit Haiti’s southern peninsula, the hurricane is big enough to affect the entire nation. It could generate winds of 40 to 73 miles per hour in places 185 miles from its center, leaving little of Haiti untouched based on its current trajectory, according to the National Hurricane Center.
On Monday afternoon, NASA posted video from the International Space Station showing the storm from 250 miles above.On Monday afternoon, NASA posted video from the International Space Station showing the storm from 250 miles above.
International aid groups are preparing to send people and begin assessing the damage. Many of the groups, recalling the chaos and waste that followed efforts to assist Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, are hoping for an improved response this time.International aid groups are preparing to send people and begin assessing the damage. Many of the groups, recalling the chaos and waste that followed efforts to assist Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, are hoping for an improved response this time.
“The 2010 response was regarded as a huge disaster, really just a disaster upon a disaster,” said Chris Skopec, who is with the humanitarian aid group International Medical Corps. “A lot of the systems in place have been built on the lessons learned from those mistakes.”“The 2010 response was regarded as a huge disaster, really just a disaster upon a disaster,” said Chris Skopec, who is with the humanitarian aid group International Medical Corps. “A lot of the systems in place have been built on the lessons learned from those mistakes.”
The challenge, in large part, is one of coordination, a job that by most accounts should fall to the central government. At the best of times, the Haitian government struggles. But now, it is worse: There is no elected president, meaning there is a significant absence in the center of the central government.The challenge, in large part, is one of coordination, a job that by most accounts should fall to the central government. At the best of times, the Haitian government struggles. But now, it is worse: There is no elected president, meaning there is a significant absence in the center of the central government.
The hurricane is expected to remain dangerous through the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center. It forecast “very dangerous” beach and boating conditions along much of the East Coast of the United States throughout this week and weekend.The hurricane is expected to remain dangerous through the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center. It forecast “very dangerous” beach and boating conditions along much of the East Coast of the United States throughout this week and weekend.
The governors of Florida and North Carolina declared emergencies, and officials worried that the storm could shift rapidly westward, potentially leaving little time for evacuations.The governors of Florida and North Carolina declared emergencies, and officials worried that the storm could shift rapidly westward, potentially leaving little time for evacuations.
“Although Matthew is not projected at this time to directly impact Florida, that could quickly change,” Gov. Rick Scott said in Hialeah, near Miami. He said state officials were especially concerned about the Interstate 95 corridor.“Although Matthew is not projected at this time to directly impact Florida, that could quickly change,” Gov. Rick Scott said in Hialeah, near Miami. He said state officials were especially concerned about the Interstate 95 corridor.