Hurricane

"Everyone" is watching the progress 0f Hurricane Dean except those in the Department of the South in Haiti. One does not find too many televisions and radios around these parts any how. Locals express incredulity that anything will actually happen (it has, afterall, been over 20 years since Haiti took a direct hit from a major hurricane). The sky is getting grayer -- taking on that yellow color that it often does before major storms -- and the winds are picking up. The vendors are still in the streets, their wares blowing back and forth. The government sent out alerts... but they are not doing much (they really cannot do much).

The market this morning was empty. No one is stocking water. The guy next door is still washing cars. The streets are full of activity.

The UN is doing what is possible in their limited capabilities to aid the local population -- but this is not exactly their mandate. But either way, no one else is here to do anything: preventative relief is not a priority for the global community so funding is nearly non-existant. Aid will come after; already some major humanitarian relief organizations gearing up to fund the "disaster zones."

If Dean comes too close, southern Haiti will suffer greatly -- even without a direct hit.

Hurricane

Saturday, August 18, 2007 Hurricane Dean Portia

before the strike