TROPICAL STORM NOEL: EIGHTEEN FATALITIES,

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001753 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SENV SOCI HA SUBJECT: TROPICAL STORM NOEL: EIGHTEEN FATALITIES, LOCALIZED FLOODING ¶1. Tropical Storm Noel has been characterized by long, steady rains that have caused slowly rising rivers and localized flooding. ¶2. As of 0730 EDT October 31, Direction de Protection Civil (DPC - Haiti's disaster response authority, under the Ministry of Interior) reported flooding that has caused 18 deaths and 3398 persons to be evacuated into shelters, and localized flooding that has damaged houses and agricultural land: -- West Department (includes Port au Prince): flooding and evacuation of several hundred residents in the Tabarre and Cite Soleil areas, with 1400 persons put into shelters; flooding and further 1050 persons put into shelters in the rest of the department; -- Nippes Department: seven homes destroyed, 115 damaged, damage to large farms; towns affected include Miragoane, Anse-a-Veau, Paillant, Azile, Petit Trou des Nippes, Arnaud, Plaisance, Grand Boucan, and Baraderes; -- Southeast Department: flooding in Jacmel, Cayes Jacmel, Belle Anse, and Anse-a-Pitres. Evacuation of 250 persons into shelters; -- Northwest Department, flooding and damage to houses in Anse-a-Foleur, on Ile de la Tortue, in Chansolme, Bassin Bleu, and Saint-Louis du Nord; -- South Department: flooding in Camp-Perrin and Aquin, with 500 persons in shelters. ¶3. Most deaths were in the Center Department: Petion Ville in Port au Prince (4),Grand Goave (2),Petit Goave (1),Cite Soleil (2),Croix des Bouquets (1),Carrefour (2),Ganthier (1),and Arachaie (2). ¶4. Although the center of the storm has passed over Haiti, rains continue. As of 1100 EDT October 31, a light, steady rain was falling in the capital. ¶5. USAID is in contact with its implementing partners World Vision, Care, Save the Children, and Catholic Relief Services, who are working with officials of the DPC (Direction de Protection Civll) in the departments to assess the damage and the need for a response. ¶6. Embassy released a warden message October 28 alerting American citizens residing in or traveling to Haiti that a tropical storm warning remains in effect for the entire coast of Haiti. It urges Amcits to monitor weather announcements, protect items that could be damaged in flooding, and to be prepared to evacuate from flood and landslide zones, if necessary. SANDERSON