Preparing for possible hurricane strike in Haiti
If Tropical Storm Tomas continues on its current course, hurricane-force winds could hit Haiti, where thousands of earthquake victims are living in vulnerable tent cities.
OBI has prepared a WMI water purification unit for deployment on a truck so that it can be sent to the hardest hit area within hours of the storm.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Operation Blessing is preparing for a possible hurricane strike later this week as Tomas spins nearer to the island nation. Current National Hurricane Center predictions show the storm intensifying as it passes southeast of Jamaica and then turning north directly toward Haiti later this week.
Bill Horan, president of Operation Blessing International, says that “if Tomas strikes Haiti as a major hurricane, this has the potential to be one of the biggest disasters in recent memory. There are over 1 million vulnerable people living in tents, and there’s also an outbreak of cholera—which would only escalate as torrential rains cause flooding, spread disease and contaminate drinking water. It’s unfathomable to think what might happen.”
To prepare for this storm, OBI has mobilized its disaster relief team in Haiti. Today, David Darg, international disaster relief director, prepared a WMI water purification unit for deployment on a truck so that it can be sent to the hardest hit area within hours of the storm. The unit is able to produce up to 10,000 gallons of clean drinking water each day. OBI currently operates 35 WMI purification units in and around Port-au-Prince as well as in areas hit by the recent cholera outbreak.
The team also prepared a number of portable family-sized water purifiers and other supplies including tarps and non-perishable food. Depending on the path of the storm, the team will be staged in either Port-au-Prince or Jacmel.
OBI is also continuing efforts to combat the cholera outbreak, including keeping several WMI water purification plants running to provide water to remote villages that were using the contaminated river for drinking water. OBI has also distributed dozens of Lifesaver jerrycans in the area.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Be a part of Operation Blessing's efforts to transform the lives of children and adults in Haiti, please make an online contribution and help us continue to reach those in need.