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Hurricane season is here

Posted by CaribShout on June 6, 2010 at 11:40pm

Residents of the Caribbean and Central America have been advised to prepare early for this year's hurricane season, which experts say is expected to be one of the most turbulent ever. Weather forecasters have predicted the formation of 23 named storms, with eight to 14 developing into hurricanes. Up to seven of those weather systems could strengthen into category three or higher, packing winds of over 111 to 130 miles per hour. Given the grave predictions, residents in the region have been urged not to wait till a storm watch or warning has been issued to take action. Executive Director of the Pan American Development Foundation, John Sanbrailo, says a few simple steps will make a difference and possibly even save lives, when a storm hits a community. "While our region is no stranger to the damages caused by the wind, rain and flooding of a hurricane, we are surprised how few people plan for a disaster. "Many times the tools they need to make a plan are in their homes and community," Mr Sanbrailo said. Haiti at even greater risk But one group of people who will not be able to put plans in place are earthquake survivors in Haiti. Over 1.5 million were made homeless by the 12 January disaster and hundreds of thousands still have only tarpaulins or fraying tents to protect them in a major storm. The country is already vulnerable to tropical storms - in 2004 Tropical Storm Jeanne claimed almost 3,000 lives and four years later successive storms left up to 800 dead and thousands homeless. The capital, Port-au-Prince, hardly ever gets a direct hit, but now the government says it's unclear where people will go as many churches, schools and other potential shelters were destroyed by the quake. Local health expert, Dr Jean Pape, estimates that only 1% of the survivors in flood zones have been relocated. Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive says the quake has forced the government to revise its storm contingency plans. He also added that presently, hurricanes are not the only threat to the country. "We don't need a hurricane to have problems in Haiti, we just need three or four days of continuous rain to have serius problems," Mr Bellerive told the Associated Press. In addition to the threat of storms, there is also the risk of disease and serious flooding which could cause mass casualties. The 2009 hurricane season was a below average one which saw the formation of nine tropical storms.
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