Update: Hurricane Tomas has now largely passed Port-au-Prince. World Vision has programs in some of the hardest hit locations and is reaching out to staff immediately to get updates on the situation. In addition, World Vision is contacting displacement-camp committees to assess the damage from the storm.

World Vision is busy with emergency preparations in Haiti as Hurricane Tomas is expected to barrel along a pathway that will skirt the west coast of the country.

The hurricane is expected to batter the island with fierce winds and torrential rainfall. World Vision is extremely concerned for the 1.3 million camp dwellers who were displaced from their homes when a massive earthquake hit the country in January.

The organization, which is already responding to the tragedy of the quake and an active cholera outbreak, is working with the government and other non-government organizations (NGOs) to prepare for the hurricane.

Rain is the Real Danger
While strong winds pose a serious threat to the camps, the greatest danger from the hurricane is the rain. In the past, rainfall from these sorts of storms have set off landslides that have killed thousands.

The hurricane threat has been present since the earthquake, and World Vision has integrated disaster risk reduction messages and mitigation into our programs. This includes digging drainage canals and laying gravel in camps where it works.

In areas at risk of landslide and flooding people are warned and encouraged to move to safer areas and higher ground. World Vision’s programming is not necessarily affected but we are still asking people to move to safer locations, especially people living in camps around Port-au-Prince.

Emergency Preparations
World Vision’s immediate preparations for the arrival of Tomas include:

• temporarily dismantling our Child Friendly Spaces tents
• ensuring all camp drinking-water tanks are full
• emptying and securing latrines in the camps
• securing contents in World Vision health tents; clinics will remain open (as long as possible) to provide preventative measures for cholera
• formulating plans to mobilize post-storm rapid assessment teams pre-positioning of emergency supplies, including hygiene kits and blankets, for distribution immediately after the storm has passed
• making hurricane preparation announcements in the camps, urging residents to identify a safe place, listen for radio updates, have phones charged and keep important documents in plastic bags

World Vision’s Work in Haiti
As part of the response to the January earthquake, World Vision is coordinating and providing support to roughly 21 camps and 70,000 people in Port au Prince. Additionally, the organization provides water services in about 50 camps for 120,000 residents. As much as 1.5 million litres of treated water are trucked to these camps daily.

What You Can Do
If you would like to contribute to World Vision’s efforts to rebuild Haiti, click here.