Sandy tropical storm moves slowly northward at a speed of 9 km/h, and could strengthen in the next 24 hours. Sandy is located Tuesday at 5:00 pm, about 393 km south-west Kingston, Jamaica. Maximum winds blowing at 85 km/h, with higher gusts. The storm winds blow in a radius of 150km from its center.

This afternoon, Haiti has passed, to the alert phase and maintains the orange vigilance, to the heavy seas, heavy rain and strong winds, with the risk of rockslide, landslides and flooding over the major part of the country, including the departments of the West, South, South East, Nippes and Grand Anse.

According to the latest numerical analyzes, Sandy has a strong capacity pluviometric and could dump between 150 to 300 mm of rain on the plains and 500 mm on the mountains.

The Directorate General of Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH) notify the public in general, Owners, Captains and Sailors in particular that cabotage activities are prohibited throughout the territory of the Republic and vessels must remain in their port or in sheltered waters until further notice.

The National Meteorological Centre (CNM), together with the SPGRD and DPC, asks the population of areas at risk to remain vigilant and strictly implement the following safety precautions :

• If your home is in an area at risk or if you live near a gully, of a stream of water, a beach or mountainside, make arrangements to go to the provided shelters or to a housing less exposed to flooding..

• Put your pets in shelters previously identified.

• Gather all your important papers.

• Secure everything that can be carried by wind and which is outside the house: trash, tools, posters, decorative lamps, bulbs, etc...

• Down any heavy object placed high : antennas, signs... coconuts hanging on your roof, to prevent they fall on your house or are carried by the wind.

• Remove and wrap all light objects in the house: tables, frames, clocks, books, stationery, ornaments... hanging on the walls of your home or on shelves to prevent them from falling.

• Put tape on the windows and doors or put the pieces of fabric on the inside of the windows and of these doors to protect youself against possible broken glass.

• Avoid tto go in a very remote area of your home, especially if you are unsure of return within 15 to 20 hours.

• Do not take the sea If you're already quickly regain the land.

• Up boats and moor them solidly away from the shore.

• If a woman in the family is about to give birth, take her to the nearest hospital so she can get the care needed.

HL/ HaitiLibre