Haiti pounded with Storms !

Thursday 9/4/08

Today – Chicago is receiving what is left of Hurricane Gustav in the form of wind and rain. This is nothing compared to what is happening in Haiti.

"The situation is as bad as it can be," said Vadre Louis, a U.N. official in Gonaives. "The wind is ripping up trees. Houses are flooded with water. Cars can't drive on the street. You can't rescue anyone, wherever they may be."

This hurricane season has already claimed many Haitian lives – 50 with Fay and 76 with Gustav. Tropical Storm Hanna drenched flood-plagued land increasing the death-toll by another 25. In the port city of Gonaives, 6.5 foot of water forced residents to climb on their rooftops and pray for relief. Haiti’s lack of infrastructure, as well as the deforestation of hillsides for production of cooking charcoal, leaves the island especially vulnerable to flash flooding and disastrous mudslides.

Dr Catherine Wolf, missionary physician from Milwaukee, writes that after 48 hours of continuous rain <> that “ the Grand Anse River… has reached the height of the bridge passing over it. …this bridge is the only structure connecting Jeremie with the rest of the country. Everyone and everything coming into Jeremie crosses this bridge and without it, we can’t go anywhere out of town. It’s a big suspension bridge that normally is about 50 feet above the water. So, to have the river reach the bridge is a notable event!”
Click here: Friends for Health in Haiti News

Nora Léon, director of “Children of Israel” orphanage in Les Cayes, reports that the boys had to be moved from the dormitory to the church compound which is on higher ground. She and her husband where stuck in PAP while attempting to return a young girl to here mountain village when the airports were closed and the roads became non navigable. This 7 year old has been receiving medical assistance here in Illinois this summer and is anxious to see her family again.
Received word today that the three are attempting to travel by road as the weather reports indicate that more rain is coming in the form of Ike and Josepine. The family lives in Torbeck a low lying area that floods easily. They have not been able to contact the family and praying that they are safe.

Click here: NEWS FROM NORA

Donations for Disaster Relief are being collected at:
Click here: Lutheran Church Charities

KEN