This Thursday the orange alert level is maintained throughout the department of Haiti, in addition the cabotage operations particularly on the coast south of the country are prohibited.

The interaction between the low pressure area at the level of the south-west of the Caribbean Sea and the tropical wave located to the east of it will generate heavy showers, scattered thunderstorms and high winds over much of the island of Haiti today. The depression is moving very slowly, for this reason it will have time to dump a significant amount of rain, particularly on the peninsula south of the country during the next 48 hours.

Consequently, the Permanent Secretariat for Risk Management and Disaster (SPGRD) maintains this Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 9am the phase of alert to the level of orange vigilance (ie impact risk of moderate to severe) to heavy rains in the National Emergency Plan face to the threats of heavy rain with risk of river flood, rockfalls, landslide, collapse and flooding for all our departments including, the South, South-east, the Nippes, Grande-anse, West, Center and Artibonite.

The National Centre of Meteorology (CNM) together with the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH), the National Civil Aviation Office (OFNAC) and the National Airport Authority (AAN) prohibits cabotage operations particularly on the coast south of the country as well as flights at the arrival and to the departure of Jérémie, les Cayes and Jacmel.

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

• Listen the weather updates.

• If your home is threatened by floods, rockfalls and landslide, prepare 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