The First Lady, Sophia Martelly, visited yesterday Thursday, the Directorate of Civil Protection to inquire about arrangements on the eve of the hurricane season. This Friday, the Office of Civil Protection (DPC), has declared the orange alert level.

Martelly The President sends a message to the population:

"Haitian people following the recent rains, the Office of Civil Protection has declared an orange alert. This is a "surface trough" (creux de surface). Immobile, which will remain on the central part of the Caribbean.

Consequently, it is asked to the population in general and particularly those living in areas at risk, to be extremely vigilant, to the small boats, to avoid absolutely the high seas; and to observe the curren preventive measures regarding the potential spread of cholera maximized during the period of precipitation (rain season)

The Presidency, particularly concerned by this situation, asks the entire population to follow closely the various weather reports to avoid any loss of life"

Special Bulletin May 20, 2011:

Compared to the overlapping of rain already recorded between Tuesday and Thursday, the Permanent Secretariat for Risk Management and Disaster (SPGRD) declares this Friday, May 20, 2011 to 9:00am the level of orange alert (ie impact risk of moderate to severe) to heavy rains and announces the launch of National Plan for Risk Management and Disaster (PNGRD) face to the threats of heavy rain with risk of river floods, landslides, land, collapse landslide and flood for all our departments, including the West, Centre, Artibonite, Southeast, Northwest, North and Northeast.

A surface trough located on the Haitian-Dominican border this morning moves westward and could settle on Haiti before its dissipation scheduled for Sunday. The humidity associated with it will bring heavy showers and thunderstorms scattered across the country today, Saturday and Sunday.

The National Meteorological Center (CNM) in conjunction with the DPC and the SPGRD ask the population of the areas at risk of mudslides, landslides and flooding, to stay vigilant and strictly implement the following safety guidelines.

Safety Instructions:

• Avoid to circulate and to stay in areas exposed to

  rockfalls and landsliding.

• Watch the rising water. If your home is threatened by floods, rockfalls, and of landslide, prepare you to evacuate.

• Do not cross the rivers in flood on any pretext.

• In cases of severe thunderstorms, do not shelter near windows and in woodland.

HL/ HaitiLibre