Support for Named Disaster: 2010 Haiti, Hurricane Tomas available at Tearfund - 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Haiti on high alert for tropical storm Tomas

Source: Tearfund

Date: 04 Nov 2010

Tearfund staff in Haiti are working closely with the Haitian Government, UN and other aid agencies to help people prepare for a severe tropical storm which could hit land in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Forecasters are warning that the country is in the path of Tropical Storm Tomas, which could bring strong winds, heavy rains and the potential for severe damage to buildings.

With more than one million people still living in tents after January's earthquake, the consequences of the storm could be dire.

Along with fellow aid agencies, Tearfund is preparing to distribute food provided by the World Food Programme to communities affected in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Tearfund will also help assess damage to shelter and provide timber and tarpaulins to vulnerable families should the storm hit.

'Tearfund is working with other agencies and the UN to be as prepared as possible for this storm,' says Laura Nairn, Tearfund Programme Director. 'We're obviously hoping and praying it doesn't happen but we are as ready as we possibly can be if it does hit Haiti.

'We have assessed emergency food and shelter supplies and are making everything available for those who may be affected by this storm. This could be absolutely devastating for the people of Haiti, particularly those still living in tents and tarpaulins in and around Port-Au-Prince following the earthquake earlier this year.'

Construction sites managed by Tearfund are being secured as much as possible to minimise the risk of flying debris.

Jean-Claude Cerin, Tearfund's Country Representative in Haiti says, 'In a hurricane or tropical storm, the biggest risk to life is violent winds that can carry debris which can hit and kill people. Branches and trees will fly around and houses can lose their roofs. The risk of flooding is huge and with that comes the risk of landslides and increased risk of waterborne diseases.'

Educating Haitians about what to do when facing the threat of natural disasters and how to protect themselves has been part of Tearfund's post-earthquake response, working particularly with children.

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