Stories from the field
Haiti braces for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy
As of October 23, Haiti has been feeling the effects of Tropical Storm - now Hurricane - Sandy. Haiti has been on alert since Tuesday morning and authorities are asking people to stay vigilant and follow the guidelines to ensure their safety while Haiti experiences the wind and the rain brought on by the storm’s passage through the Caribbean.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Haiti, in partnership with the Haitian Red Cross, has already taken measures to ensure a rapid response to all parts of the country affected by this weather. On October 23, the Red Cross started sending out text messages on the Voila mobile phone network urging families to beware of strong wind and rain, flooding, and landslides. Messages warned people to stay vigilant, listen to the radio and call 733, the Red Cross integrated voice response system. This system allows people to access information on what precautions they can take during and after a storm.
Radyo KwaWouj, the Haitian Red Cross Society radio show, will also broadcast safety and prevention messages on air to ensure the message reaches as many people as possible. In addition, the Red Cross sound truck will be dispatched to different areas of the capital to spread messages to people still in camps and neighbourhoods.
In terms of response mechanisms, two emergency response teams have been prepared and are ready to be deployed for rapid camp assessments and 11,000 emergency kits are also ready to be handed out to the most vulnerable and those badly affected by the severe weather brought on by the storm.
It has only been two months since Tropical Storm Isaac struck Haiti, and though Sandy will not hit the country directly, its effects will most likely affect the thousands of people still in camps in and around Port-au-Prince.
Canadians wishing to support Hurricane response and preparedness efforts can make a financial donation to our Hurricanes 2012 online at www.redcross.ca, by calling 1-800-418-1111 or by contacting their local Canadian Red Cross office.
