Hanna Drenches Waterlogged Haiti

26 dead, thousands stranded as island suffers through another storm

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 3, 2008 2:16 PM CDT

(AP) – Far-reaching Tropical Storm Hanna drenched flood-plagued Haiti today, adding to the miseries of a country that has lost 110 lives to mudslides and flooding since mid-August. The storm was expected to sweep across the Bahamas and then start climbing along the US coastline by the weekend, with a 20% chance it could bring strong winds as far north as New York.

Haitian authorities reported five more deaths related to Hanna, boosting the toll to 26. Floodwaters displaced 5,000 and swamped a hospital in one area, forcing nurses to move patients to higher floors. High water still prevented UN soldiers from reaching the western city of Gonaives, where the rise of muddy water drove people to seek refuge on rooftops.

[Images (4)]

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This image provided by NOAA was taken at 4:15 am EDT today, showing Tropical Storm Hanna located about 90 miles southeast of Great Inagua Island. (AP Photo/NOAA)

A Bolivian peacekeeper, left, stands on an area flooded by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hanna next to residents in Savan Desole, Haiti, yesterday. (AP Photo)

Cortez Simmons carries sand bags to a nearby house as he prepares for the possible landfall of Tropical Storm Hanna in Charleston, S.C. today. (ALAN HAWES)

People cross an area flooded by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hanna in Savan Desole, Haiti, today. (AP Photo)

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The situation is as bad as it can be. The wind is ripping up trees. Houses are flooded with water. Cars can't drive on the street. You can't
rescue anyone, wherever
they may be. - UN official in Gonaives

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Hanna Drenches Waterlogged Haiti