Emergency Summary
Hurricane Irma formed near the Cabo Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and is classified as a “Cape Verde hurricane”. These types of hurricanes are frequently some of the largest and most intense. Irma was classified as a Category 3 hurricane on Sunday evening but was upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane on the morning of 5 September. The northern parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are in the projected path of the hurricane.
It is expected that Hurricane Irma will intensify over Thursday 7 September and Friday 8 September with most impact likely to occur early Thursday morning AST (9pm Thursday Australian Eastern Standard time).
warningFinal Update 11 September 3PM
As our church partners have got in contact with children and their families, we now have a better assessment of the impact and damage.
The regions of North, North-East, North-West, Artibonite and Central plateau are the most affected. People living in those places experienced heavy rains, flooding and some of them have their roofs destroyed, their farms and cattle taken away to the river. Several parts of the main roads were also destroyed including an ancient bridge that connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic.
Compassion church partners, through their disaster response teams in the field, have established temporary shelters that accommodated more than 267 Compassion-assisted children in the affected regions and each local project has made proper arrangements to provide the needed people with as much food, water and medicine needed during and after the hurricane.
Overall:
- Three Compassion centres are affected. Another 12 are estimated to have minor damage.
- 641 Compassion-assisted children are affected. Most of these children have are healthy and safe but have lost homes. There are a couple of children who have been injured and Compassion is helping to attend to them and their immediate needs.
warningUpdate 8 September 4:30PM
Haiti has felt the edges of Hurricane Irma as it moved away from the Dominican Republic and reports so far suggest it has been spared the worst effects of the category 5.
The north of Haiti, including the port city of Cap-Haïtien, have experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds from Irma’s outer fringes as it passed. There are reports of some injuries and damage to buildings, but not widespread devastation. The bridge linking the Dominican Republic to Haiti has collapsed.
warningUpdate 8 September 10AM
Category 5 Hurricane Irma is moving north of the Dominican Republic, largely missing the Caribbean nation. It is currently headed in the direction of Haiti, with the risks of flash flooding and landslides high.
Dominican Republic:
Even as Irma moves on, the Domincan Republic could still experience heavy rains, strong winds and storm surges. The impact to Compassion assisted children is unknown. Twenty of our church partners have been deemed high-risk for rain and flooding. An estimated 80 families have been relocated. Our church partners have been providing food to the families as they are able.
Local Compassion staff are actively monitoring the situation.
Haiti:
Heavy rain is already pummelling the north coast and several areas have already lost power. Compassion Haiti is continuing to monitor the situation.
warningUpdate 7 September 12pm
The US National Hurricane centre has issued its latest update and Hurricane warnings remain in place for Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, south-eastern and central Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Irma’s centre is currently passing “just north of Puerto Rico”, moving west-north-west towards the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Haiti:
The latest forecasts predict that Irma will make landfall in Haiti at approximately 8:00am on September 7 (10pm 7 September Australian Eastern Standard Time). Heavy rains are expected in the northern region, which will progressively spread over the whole country. The country is now under yellow alert and the population is very concerned. Compassion Haiti staff are working with our church partners to help children and families prepare.
They ask us to commit their country to the Lord in pray and ask for protection for children in vulnerable communities.
Dominican Republic:
Compassion Dominican Republic continues to make preparations for Hurricane Irma. They are working closely with all our church partners and preparing a relief response if the hurricane makes landfall. Many staff members, including the Disaster Response team, are prepared to be on-call 24/7 for any support that churches may need. Once the hurricane passes, each facilitator will contact their churches to receive a first impact report. They ask us to pray for:
- Children and families in the communities at risk.
- Strength for our church partners.
- Mercy and protection for the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Compassion's Response
As the hurricane approaches, our church partners are implementing disaster preparedness plans to help Compassion assisted children and their families:
- Informing families of the anticipated disaster.
- Identifying safer areas to seek shelter during the storm.
- Preparing emergency relief kits which commonly include water, food, hygiene items and temporary shelter.
- Reading communication channels.
Currently there are over 89,000 Compassion-assisted children in Haiti and over 55,000 in the Dominican Republic.
Prayer Points
- Please pray that the path of the hurricane would avoid landfall and lessen in severity.
- Please pray for the protection and safety of all Compassion-assisted children and their families and that the impact from the hurricane would be minimal.
- Pray for Compassion church partners in Haiti and Dominican Republic. Ask God to give them wisdom as they mobilise resources to respond to this crisis.
SOURCES: National Hurricane Center Atlantic Operations, CNN Storm Tracker, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Emergency Summary
Hurricane Irma formed near the Cabo Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and is classified as a “Cape Verde hurricane”. These types of hurricanes are frequently some of the largest and most intense. Irma was classified as a Category 3 hurricane on Sunday evening but was upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane on the morning of 5 September. The northern parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are in the projected path of the hurricane.
It is expected that Hurricane Irma will intensify over Thursday 7 September and Friday 8 September with most impact likely to occur early Thursday morning AST (9pm Thursday Australian Eastern Standard time).
warningFinal Update 11 September 3PM
As our church partners have got in contact with children and their families, we now have a better assessment of the impact and damage.
The regions of North, North-East, North-West, Artibonite and Central plateau are the most affected. People living in those places experienced heavy rains, flooding and some of them have their roofs destroyed, their farms and cattle taken away to the river. Several parts of the main roads were also destroyed including an ancient bridge that connected Haiti to the Dominican Republic.
Compassion church partners, through their disaster response teams in the field, have established temporary shelters that accommodated more than 267 Compassion-assisted children in the affected regions and each local project has made proper arrangements to provide the needed people with as much food, water and medicine needed during and after the hurricane.
Overall:
- Three Compassion centres are affected. Another 12 are estimated to have minor damage.
- 641 Compassion-assisted children are affected. Most of these children have are healthy and safe but have lost homes. There are a couple of children who have been injured and Compassion is helping to attend to them and their immediate needs.
warningUpdate 8 September 4:30PM
Haiti has felt the edges of Hurricane Irma as it moved away from the Dominican Republic and reports so far suggest it has been spared the worst effects of the category 5.
The north of Haiti, including the port city of Cap-Haïtien, have experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds from Irma’s outer fringes as it passed. There are reports of some injuries and damage to buildings, but not widespread devastation. The bridge linking the Dominican Republic to Haiti has collapsed.
warningUpdate 8 September 10AM
Category 5 Hurricane Irma is moving north of the Dominican Republic, largely missing the Caribbean nation. It is currently headed in the direction of Haiti, with the risks of flash flooding and landslides high.
Dominican Republic:
Even as Irma moves on, the Domincan Republic could still experience heavy rains, strong winds and storm surges. The impact to Compassion assisted children is unknown. Twenty of our church partners have been deemed high-risk for rain and flooding. An estimated 80 families have been relocated. Our church partners have been providing food to the families as they are able.
Local Compassion staff are actively monitoring the situation.
Haiti:
Heavy rain is already pummelling the north coast and several areas have already lost power. Compassion Haiti is continuing to monitor the situation.
warningUpdate 7 September 12pm
The US National Hurricane centre has issued its latest update and Hurricane warnings remain in place for Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, south-eastern and central Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Irma’s centre is currently passing “just north of Puerto Rico”, moving west-north-west towards the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Haiti:
The latest forecasts predict that Irma will make landfall in Haiti at approximately 8:00am on September 7 (10pm 7 September Australian Eastern Standard Time). Heavy rains are expected in the northern region, which will progressively spread over the whole country. The country is now under yellow alert and the population is very concerned. Compassion Haiti staff are working with our church partners to help children and families prepare.
They ask us to commit their country to the Lord in pray and ask for protection for children in vulnerable communities.
Dominican Republic:
Compassion Dominican Republic continues to make preparations for Hurricane Irma. They are working closely with all our church partners and preparing a relief response if the hurricane makes landfall. Many staff members, including the Disaster Response team, are prepared to be on-call 24/7 for any support that churches may need. Once the hurricane passes, each facilitator will contact their churches to receive a first impact report. They ask us to pray for:
- Children and families in the communities at risk.
- Strength for our church partners.
- Mercy and protection for the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Compassion's Response
As the hurricane approaches, our church partners are implementing disaster preparedness plans to help Compassion assisted children and their families:
- Informing families of the anticipated disaster.
- Identifying safer areas to seek shelter during the storm.
- Preparing emergency relief kits which commonly include water, food, hygiene items and temporary shelter.
- Reading communication channels.
Currently there are over 89,000 Compassion-assisted children in Haiti and over 55,000 in the Dominican Republic.
Prayer Points
- Please pray that the path of the hurricane would avoid landfall and lessen in severity.
- Please pray for the protection and safety of all Compassion-assisted children and their families and that the impact from the hurricane would be minimal.
- Pray for Compassion church partners in Haiti and Dominican Republic. Ask God to give them wisdom as they mobilise resources to respond to this crisis.
SOURCES: National Hurricane Center Atlantic Operations, CNN Storm Tracker, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.