Saturday, October 1st 2016, the National System of Risk and Disaster Management (SNGRD) proceeded in mid-day to the activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre (COUN). From that moment, all responsibles of regions of the Permanent Secretariat of Risk Management are mobilized and sit permanently to the COUN, to follow the evolution of Matthew hurricane, that threatens to hit all departments of the country, with more risk on the great South.

This hurricane, classified currently in Category 4, represents a threat for Haiti, on land and at sea. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large and destructive waves could raise water levels by as much as the following amounts above normal tide levels, 6 to 9 feet for the South coast of Haiti and 3 to 5 feet for the Gulf of Gonâve.

The cyclonic swells and rising tide have already reached the islets on the edge of the Ile à Vache.

An intervention of the Communal Committee of Civil Protection and local officials helped evacuate 89 people including 58 women and 14 children from the Abreu islet toaward Île-à-Vaches.

According to latest information the movement of Matthew is currently North West at a speed of 7 km/h, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18787-haiti-flash-matthew-approaches-haiti-in-red-vigilance.html Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 15 (380 mm) to 25 inches (635mm) over southern Haiti, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 40 inches (1016mm).

These accumulations of rain during the passage of Hurricane Matthew from Sunday to Tuesday could cause severe flooding, important mudslidesand of flash floods all over the country especially on the southern departments, of Nippes, Grande-Anse, South East and West.

Accordingly, SPGRD and the National Meteorological Center (CNM) decreed the alert phase 1, at red vigilance, on Saturday evening. Similarly, the Maritime Service and Navigation of Haiti (SEMANAH), maintains the ban on cabotage operations on the coastal areas of the country, effective from September 30, particularly the South coast and the gulf of Gonâve.

The civil protection indicated that in the South of 576 temporary shelters are available and can accommodate up to 88,252 people for a period of at least 3 days.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18787-haiti-flash-matthew-approaches-haiti-in-red-vigilance.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-18788-icihaiti-matthew-privert-and-pm-at-the-national-emergency-operations-centre.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18789-haiti-matthew-state-holds-a-high-level-emergency-meeting.html

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre