Tropical Storm Irene nears hurricane status, heads to Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (August 21, 2011) — As Tropical Storm Irene gains strength and heads toward Haiti, World Vision is concerned that vulnerable families there may now be complacent after the recent false alarm with Tropical Storm Emily, a few weeks ago. The organization is mobilizing staff to visit camps tomorrow morning to help residents prepare, and is ready to respond immediately if Irene hits earlier than forecasted.


Key updates from World Vision.

• World Vision sees Irene as a particular threat to the some 595,000 people still living in temporary camps in Port-au-Prince, many lacking safe shelter and living in areas without adequate drainage or sanitation.
• "We are concerned that vulnerable families still living in temporary camps won’t treat this storm as a serious threat, after Tropical Storm Emily didn’t hit Port-au-Prince as predicted," warns World Vision's communications officer Meg Sattler in Port-au-Prince. "If flooding hits, people living in unsafe housing will be the worst affected. Heavy rain has the potential to worsen sanitation conditions in camps, which, with cholera still so prevalent in Haiti, is a major concern."
• In preparation, World Vision has prepositioned goods in Port-au-Prince and rural areas. Emergency items such as tents, tarps, blankets, water containers, cooking sets, hygiene kits, flashlights, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, bed sheets and baby kits are ready for rapid deployment.
• Tomorrow (Monday), World Vision workers will visit camps to ensure that residents are reinforcing tents, protecting essential documents, as well as identifying safe havens in case of evacuation and ensuring they have access to communications.
• World Vision has also been distributing drainage tools in camps, restocking oral rehydration salts, and securing mobile latrines, mobile clinics, cholera treatment units and Baby-Friendly and Child-Friendly Spaces.

- END -

About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor— regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.For more information on their efforts, visitWorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews