Hurricane Preparedness Checklist - 2009
Food For The Poor’s warehouse in Coconut Creek, Florida is stacked to the rafters with emergency relief supplies for this year’s hurricane season. “As we do every year, we are preparing for the worst and praying for the best,” said Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s executive director.
Our hurricane preparedness checklist includes a warehouse stockpile of generators, blankets, lanterns, stoves, food and more ready to go. We are prepared to provide emergency relief immediately after a disaster has taken place. Having taken these measures before a typical storm hits Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica or one of the many islands in the Caribbean, enables Food for the Poor to expedite emergency relief rapidly.
To find out more information about Hurricane Preparedness or to make a donation to help our cause, please Contact Us.
FAST FACTS FOR HURRICANE SEASON
Hurricanes are classified by wind strength known as the Saffir / Simpson Scale in the following categories:
- Category 1 - has winds of 74-95 mph
- Category 2 - has winds of 96-110 mph
- Category 3 - has winds of 111-130 mph
- Category 4 - has winds of 131-155 mph
- Category 5 - has winds of 156 mph & up
Food For The Poor is ready to rush emergency aid and hurricane supplies to storm victims. We have stockpiles of generators, blankets, lanterns, stoves, and more supplies ready to go.
Last year, the Caribbean was hit hard by storms and hurricanes. Haiti was devastated by four storms in less than a month. The storms killed hundreds, left tens of thousands homeless, wiped out Haiti’s crops and destroyed entire towns. As the 2009 hurricane season begins, much of Haiti is still trying to rebuild from last year’s storms.
The latest prediction from Dr. William Gray of Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project indicates we may see as many as 12 named storms and six hurricanes during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. The prediction also says that two of the hurricanes may reach Category 3 or higher.
Among the most deadly and damaging storms and hurricanes of the 2008 season are as follows:
Tropical Storm Fay killed at least 26 people in The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and the United States. The storm caused an estimated $560 million in damage.
Hurricane Gustav was the third hurricane of the 2008 season. It killed 77 people in Haiti, 8 in the Domincan Republic, 15 in Jamaica, and 53 in the United States. Hurricane Gustav caused more than $6.6 billion in damage.
Hurricane Hanna was the third storm to hit Haiti. It killed 529 people in Haiti and caused massive mudslides and widespread flooding. Particularly hard hit was the city of Gonaives where nearly 500 people were killed and close to 50,000 were left homeless. Despite the massive flooding and destruction, Food For The Poor was the first nonprofit agency to reach Gonaives – rescuing residents from rooftops and bringing food and water to storm victims.
Hurricane Ike was the third major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. It killed 195 people, including 74 in Haiti.
