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- - Haiti - -

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If you want to help Haiti The Weather Channel has a list of charities to which you can donate money. It also includes UNICEF, that I have listed before. Another good charity in my opinion and to which I just donated to, is Fonkoze, a 'microfinance' institution. Another good charity is ShelterBox, providing emergency shelters. In case you need some convincing to donate, just read some of the news reports (Google News). -Gert

- - - 2016 Hurricane Season - - -

- Grand Anse
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 17 May 2017 22:04:15 -0400
Hi all,
the weather turned to be more bad today. Heavy rain  are there a long time. Some landslide are reported. The forecasts showing a MCS even with hail and a lot more rain. Please pray for us there. 
Thomas

- heavy rain
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 16 May 2017 13:22:59 -0400
Dear all friends,
last 2 weeks we got a lot of rain even heavy rain. Since this morning we are in a system bring us much more on the western part of the island. In Grand Anse  we get forecasts of 3 days heavy rain and some flooding again. Bad news for the peoples lives near the rivers and on Cayes. 
But we hope the best
Thomas

- January 10, 2017
  • By Reuben Spitz <reuben at haitianhealthfoundation.org>
  • Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 10:34:02 -0500

In this part of the Caribbean there is certainly something unusual going on meteorologically. Very stormy weather, gusts that likely exceed 50mph off and on for the past 48 hours, accompanied by periodic rain. Right now very overcast, with sun peeking through now and then. Whatever this system is, there should be some more definitive, public characterization, and I am hardly an authority (although my observation of professional meteorologists in the US is one of overpaid entertainers).


As with Hurricane Matthew, the local/regional population here have no more than a grassroots understanding and ability to determine what may be coming from the sky. And, unquestionably, these individuals need a break from such problems. The current conditions are causing widespread, albeit relatively minor, damage to a perpetually fragile infrastructure and once again unsettling people and preventing further recovery efforts from Matthew. Unfortunately, in addition to this, the inappropriate action on the part of the US to arrest the newly elected senator from this region of Haiti has further complicated much needed public health and community re-building activities that were in progress up until late last week. This incident caused widespread panic among the non-Haitian, US aid workers prompting a mass exodus of individuals here only for relief and recovery efforts. Now the Americans are gone and much needed work (distribution of medicine, food, building materials, healthcare, etc.) has ground to a halt.


On another note, one position I would like to throw out there is the idea that those in the weather forecasting community, on a global level, consider whether or not there is a moral/ethical responsibility to inform isolated, economically marginalized populations such as here in the Grand Anse region of Haiti, as to major weather threats coming their way. Relative to the dissemination of information and/or warnings to the local population, it is unlikely that the experience with Matthew will provoke any internal changes. And, of course, as the global environmental conditions become increasingly destabilized, we should anticipate more frequent and severe meteorological events. Furthermore, as those with the least resources will suffer the most, disasters such as we witnessed (first-hand) from Matthew will occur again – maybe within the next 12 months. In the US, silly and inaccurate weather forecasts rarely result in loss of life or significant material damage – yet the ability to forecast weather events, track storms and predict severity is a potentially vital type of knowledge that could (somehow) be shared with populations both vulnerable and without access to such knowledge. Thousands of people died and many more lost everything from Hurricane Matthew – some of this could have been prevented.


Just some thoughts.


- January 09, 2017
  • By Reuben Spitz <reuben at haitianhealthfoundation.org>
  • Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2017 08:49:17 -0500
Last night we experienced significant gusts of wind (40-50 mph) with intermittent rain. This morning is still overcast with some brightening.  Despite the clouds, we are getting 6kw from our solar system. Overall, the weather conditions in this part of the Grand Anse have been relatively dry, especially since the two months of rain following Hurricane Matthew. We are nonetheless hoping that there is not a return to the previous drought conditions that prevailed for nearly three years prior to the October Hurricane. More immediate problems are political in nature, which may manifest more negatively as the week progresses.



- Jeremie, Haiti
  • By Reuben Spitz <reuben at haitianhealthfoundation.org>
  • Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2016 19:05:46 -0500

Jeremie, Haiti


Cover of clouds and intermittent rain continues here in the Southwestern end of the country. While all are hoping for a break from this weather pattern – which has largely prevailed since Hurricane Matthew – most in the population have never had any reliable forecasts or information by which they might prepare. And, for the minority who do have access to computer-based opinions, there seems to have been nothing accurate generated to date for this region. Whether this is a matter of satellites available, mountainous terrain or lack of personnel, all are quite cut-off in this part of the world. At present, people are awaiting the presidential elections scheduled for tomorrow, with continued bleak weather increasing the likelihood of poor voter turnout. Nonetheless, little has been done by the government to insure that all who wish to vote be able to do so – damage due to Hurricane Matthew will prevent thousands from access to voting locations and there appears to be no significant effort to remedy this situation. As in the past, political dysfunction will persist and a large segment of the population will remain disenfranchised, weather being one factor in the historical array of elements serving to maintain Haiti where we find it today.


RT Spitz


- Hurricane Matthew aftermath
  • By Reuben Spitz <reuben at haitianhealthfoundation.org>
  • Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2016 15:31:35 -0500

Jeremie, Haiti


Approximately 6 weeks ago, Hurricane Matthew struck Jeremie and the entire Southwestern region of Haiti. In addition to torrential rains, we experienced wind gusts reported to be as high as 170 mph during the nearly 12 hours of hurricane activity. The majority of structures in Jeremie and the surrounding region were damaged by the storm and thousands of buildings and homes were completely destroyed. My wife and I live in Jeremie at the main clinic of the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) and we were here before, during and after the hurricane. Briefly, HHF is a healthcare and community development organization with its sole location being in the Jeremie area, having been here for more than 30 years. Up until and subsequent to the hurricane, HHF has been the only consistent provider of primary health care and other medical services, serving nearly 250,000 people, in this region.


In the past, much of this area in the Grand Anse district was among few in Haiti without the immediate visible signs of deforestation and other phenomena of environmental degradation. As a result of Hurricane Matthew, there is now widespread environmental damage. It has been estimated that 75% or more of the fruit bearing trees and other above-ground food-producing vegetation was lost to Matthew, with significant damage to already severely eroded rivers and hillsides along with mud-covered flat areas. Livestock, including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, mules and chickens were killed by the thousands as rivers swept them away and hurricane force winds blew for hours on end. In addition, there are still unknown numbers of people who died as a result of the storm. There have yet to be official records of these deaths, but it is certainly in the thousands. And, while the acute effects of the storm’s damage are now past, and those injured during the storm have been treated, many in the population continue to suffer from extreme hunger and storm-related diseases, such as a resurgence of cholera and mosquito-borne illness like malaria, dengue, zika and chikungunya. Furthermore, thousands remain living out in the open as their homes were wiped away in the hurricane and the need is simply beyond the ability of any effort to quickly remedy. HHF has built thousands of homes and provided healthcare to many thousands of people, but the recovery will simply take a long time. We have been working steadily with all the major international organizations, but most have now moved away or diminished their efforts, as is expected in such disaster scenarios.


At this time, the rains continue and there appears to be an uncertain weather outlook for the next week. Today, there was intermittent heavy rain, with periodic 10-15mph gusts of wind. All here are quite nervous at the prospect of another storm of any magnitude, and, quite frankly, cannot imagine how things could get much worse for the thousands of people cut off in the mountains and living without shelter throughout the region. Hurricane Matthew is likely the worst such natural disaster ever experienced by Jeremie and this entire peninsula of Haiti.


RT Spitz


- floods
  • By rudy victor <rudyvictor at yahoo.com>
  • Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2016 19:57:03 +0000 (UTC)
The situation is getting more complicated in Haïti after the torrential rains that has been falling since the last 72 hours. The regions that has been devastated by Matthew has been pounded by heavy rain and almost all river in the area quit their banks and floods the low lying areas.  What Matthew did blown away is now under water or destroy like crops , some concrete walls, brides,  etc. It is pretty complicated particularly with a quasi non existent government. 









Sent from Yaqhoo Mail on Android

- Some more pictures after yesterday's storms
  • By rudy victor <rudyvictor at yahoo.com>
  • Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2016 19:41:54 +0000 (UTC)
Here's more picture from the southern part of haiti. 






Sent from Yaqhoo Mail on Android

- The south's in a mess
  • By GoshinX <goshin89 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2016 07:58:49 -0400
I live in Saint Marc, we weathered the storm well, our city is surrounded by mountains. It was still very windy but nothing major. There's a river that did flood but it doesn't spread out far. Only the houses near it were affected.

In the south in the other hand is different matter. From what I've heard it seems most of houses that were covered with sheetmetal had their roofs completely blown off. Substandard buildings suffered much more damage either from wind or falling trees. A city like Les Cayes has a lot of old wooden houses from colonial days. They most likely aren't there anymore.  I'm trying to get more info from the affected cities but I don't have a lot of contacts there. And a lot of people are unreachable.

- Haiti
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 18:41:34 -0500
Dear all,
the situation are worst, in some area they have the worst case, Specially the south west.
Some areas are not reachable, streets are blocked, bridges are down. The Government and UN and NGOs working on..
For me was not to bad, just my garden are devastated and one roof top window are broken.
There are no electricity at all 
Soon i will send new update.
Thomas      

- north central Haiti
  • By Debra Lucien <lucienscd at aol.com>
  • Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 11:31:07 -0700
Hi Gert;
Since we are high on the mountains about 40 miles inland we had rain but 
virtually no wind.  Heaviest reported damage with lots of roofs removed is in 
the southern peninsula which sustained the direct landfall.  Overall tho, much 
of Haiti was spared, certainly in our area.
Take care,
Debbie

- Port au Prince
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 09:58:33 -0500
Dear all, we are now in the half time of the pass of Matthew. In the night are lots of rain and storm. A lot of damage reported from the south. 
since 8 am the wind startet to force again to be more worst.
After i have more information i will give a update.
Thomas

- Haitian gouvernement finished preparation for Matthew
  • By Jean Came Poulard <jcpoulard at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2016 18:19:18 -0400
Here in Haiti, the Haitian gouvernement is in rush to complete preparation for the passage of Hurricane Cat 4 Matthew tonight and tomorrow near or over Haiti. Population in the cost and near the rivers are now under a mandatory evacuation order who suppose to complete today before mid-night. 
Reports for cities as Les Cayes on the south of the country, Jeremie in the Southwest tell us that rain was on and off all the day, as people are rushing in market places to buy last minutes provisions for their family. Here in Port-au-Prince, the sky is completely cover with hight clouds and we can feel light winds. 
The Haitian gouvernement set an 0 dead objective during the passage of Matthew hope they will attends this Goal. 

Jean Came Poulard,
Reporting From Port-au-Prince, Haiti

- Port au Prince Haiti
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2016 06:04:10 -0500
Dear all,
its still calm until now, but we talk 25 to 40 inc rain, its will be a disaster. 
Lets hope and pray
Thomas 

- Fwd: Haiti
  • By Gert van Dijken <gert at vandijken.com>
  • Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2016 19:44:31 -0700

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
Date: 2016-10-01 18:52 GMT-07:00
Subject: Haiti


Du Plan National de Gestion des Risques et des Désastres (PNGRD)
par rapport aux conditions d’Ouragan particulièrement
pour l’extrême pointe Ouest du pays
 
Description :
Ouragan Matthew de catégorie 4
Localisation : 13.5N 73.4 W  soit 580 km au Sud-Sud-ouest de Port-au-Prince(Haïti) et 620 km Sud-est de Kingston (Jamaïque)
Vent max : 240km/h 
Déplacement : Nord-Ouest : 6km/h
Pression Minimale : 940 mb ou HPa
 
Observation sur Haïti
Les cellules convectives associées  au puissant Ouragan Matthew se renforcent  de plus en plus et continuent à avancer sérieusement sur le  pays. De plus, les rafales de vent  ainsi que les conditions maritimes dangereuses, notamment  sur la côte Sud demeurent de plus en plus importantes.   
 
Prévision sur Haïti par rapport  à l’ouragan Matthew
Comme prévu, l’Ouragan MATTHEW remonte  cet après-midi  à  l’Ouest avec une  incurvation vers l’Ouest-Nord-Ouest. Les menaces des fortes pluies orageuses  et des coups de vents violents se confirment particulièrement pour les régions Sud du pays dans les prochaines  24 heures. Matthew possède une forte capacité pluviométrique allant de : 200 à 300mm en plaine et plus de 300mm sur les hauteurs. Ces cumuls de pluies durant le passage de l’ouragan Matthew entre Dimanche à Mardi risquent de provoquer des inondations sévères, des coulées de boues importantes et des crues éclaires sur tous le pays particulièrement sur les départements du Sud, des Nippes, de la Grande-anse, du Sud-est et de l’Ouest.
 
Commentaire
A 5 heures PM, la prévision de trajectoire fait  passer l’œil de l’ouragan Matthew au Nord’Ouest, le vent Max se renforce par rapport au dernier bulletin  et la pression atmosphérique garde une tendance à la baisse. Toutes les conditions à l’évolution du système sont donc réunies.La région  Sud du pays reste et demeure sous la menace des conditions d’Ouragan  et les autres régions du pays  sous les conditions de Tempête.     
 
En conséquence, le  SPGRD  de concert avec le CNM maintient ce Samedi 01 Octobre 2016 à 5h00 PM à la phase d’alerte 1 au niveau de Vigilance Orange (i.e. risque d’impact d’intensité modérée à forte) aux fortes pluies, de coup de vent et annonce l’activation du Plan National de Gestion des Risques et des Désastres(PNGRD) face aux menaces de fortes pluies et de forts vents avec risques d’éboulements, de forte houle, de glissements de terrain et d’inondations sur tout le pays en particulier sur la péninsule Sud face aux conditions  d’Ouragan.                
 
Le SPGRD de concert avec Le CNM et le SEMANAH interdit toutes les opérations de cabotages sur les zones côtières du pays en particulier les côtes Sud et le Golf de la Gonâve jusqu’à nouvel ordre.
 
Consignes
  • Restez à l’écoute des bulletins Météorologiques
  • Suivez les consignes émises par les autorités locales.
  • Mettez en lieu sûr les papiers importants.
  • Préparez des  kits alimentaires.   
  • Ne pas prendre la mer, éviter les plages et côtes, protéger les embarcations.
  • Sécurisez tout ce qui peut être emporté par le vent et qui se trouve à l’extérieur de la maison : poubelle, outillage, affiches,  lampes, décoratives,  ampoules. 
  • Descendez tout objet lourd haut placé : antennes, enseignes….
  • Se préparer à évacuer, les zones exposées aux inondations et glissements de terrain : (bords de mer, ravines, rivières, flancs des montagnes, etc.).
  • Eviter les zones exposées aux inondations et glissements de terrain : (bords de mer, ravines, rivières, flancs des montagnes, etc.).
  • Ne pas traverser les rivières en crues sous aucun prétexte.
  • Ne vous abritez pas près des fenêtres et en zone boisée.
 




- Haiti
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2016 20:39:18 -0500
now we have hurricane warnig


- Haiti
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2016 16:03:45 -0500
Dear all,
thanks Gert for your e mail.
We all was busy to prepare us and help the peoples around us to to the same.
Fore now its all calm but everybody know what can be happen.
The Hurricane today is a little bit more east with his center. But on the right side of the center are the most of rain and even lot of wind. this area its really big and will pass true over Haiti.
The NHC alert and also the government alert is  orange by today, suppose change for tomorrow after a meeting with the government, civil Protection department and some NGOs.
Haiti make a big development in Civil protection. Since yesterday the department coordinaions centers and the national coordination center COUN) on alert. Since today present. at the coordination centers. Materials for emergency available in all departments. 
The problems are the coast line in the south and  the flat areas of Port au Prince. They get water from the coast and up from the mountains. But also all peoples on the hill side need to becarefull. Even our Street change o a river if we have lots of rain. (pic)
the most of peoples take it serious and stay prepared.
We pray to god and wish our friends in Jamaica and Cuba all the best . 
I keep you updated friends 
Thomas 
P.S. pray for Haiti

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- Haiti
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:29:39 -0500
Hello everyone,
the models show up 97 l will pass true over Haiti end off the week, we hope its will be not bad for the small islands, and we hope its will not be a hurricane until Haiti. But i guess peoples here do more good to prepare all in advance.Take Care and stay save.
Thomas

- Port au Prince
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2016 05:36:02 -0500
Dear all. we look about the Invest 99 the GFS Forecast schow we will be affectet. hope all will be fine. here 2 links i like to look for the weather.

- Port au Prince
  • By freedoreno <freedoreno at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2016 18:36:24 -0500
Its looks dark right now and we will see what the night will be bring to us from the 97 L
Thomas

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- Fwd: Haiti
  • By Gert van Dijken <gert at vandijken.com>
  • Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2016 21:36:13 -0700
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: freedoreno
Date: Thu, Jun 2, 2016 at 7:36 PM


Dear all, lots of rain every day in Haiti and some flooding as well. i hope everyone are prepared for the Saison this year
Thomas


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