Thursday July 1, 2021 at midday, as tropical storm Elsa approaches, the Permanent Secretariat for Disaster Risk Management (SPGRD) and the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DPC), together with the Hydro Meteorological Unit of Haiti (UHM) activated the National Risk and Disaster Management Plan with a level of Yellow Vigilance (Risk of impacts of low to moderate intensity throughout the countries in particular in the South-East, West, Nippes, South and Grande-Anse.)

This Friday, July 2, 2021 at 5:00 a.m., tropical storm Elsa was strengthening as it approached the Lesser Antilles. Radar data from Barbados indicates that a small inner core could form, and it seems likely that the center will pass very near or over the island of Barbados later this morning.

Located at 12.7N 58.6W, tropical Storm Elsa has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h with higher gusts. Further strengthening is expected over the next 12-24 hours.

Elsa is traveling at 44 km/h in a north-northwest direction, and this movement is expected to continue over the next two days. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 220 km from its center.

"According on the predicted track, Elsa will pass near or over parts of the Windward Islands or southern Leeward Islands this morning, cross the Eastern Caribbean Sea late today and tonight, and will travel near the south coast of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) on Saturday. Elsa is expected to travel near Jamaica and parts of eastern Cuba on Sunday," says Miami Hurricane Center

The SPGRD and the DPGC, together with the UHM, ask the inhabitants of areas at risk of flooding, landslides and landslides to remain vigilant and to apply the usual safety instructions :

Some safety tips :

Stay tuned to the Meteorological bulletins;

Follow the instructions issued by local authorities;

Secure important papers. ;

Prepare food kits;

Build or revise your emergency kit;

If you live in an area at risk, near a ravine, a stream or near the coast, make arrangements to move to accommodation or shelter less exposed to flooding;

Do not cross flooded rivers under any circumstances;

Secure anything that can be blown away and that is outside the house.

In addition to the risks associated with meteorological hazards, the population must continue to protect themselves from Covid-19, by respecting the hygiene and physical distancing instructions of the Ministry of Public Health.

SL/ HaitiLibre