Heifer Haiti Readies for Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm, is projected to reach Haiti by Thursday. We are carefully monitoring the hurricane and making preparations in the communities where we work.

Weather forecasts predict the arrival of tropical storm force winds late Wednesday evening or early Thursday. The current trajectory shows probable impact on the northern coast of Haiti, extending into the western coastal area of the country.

A Hurricane Irma projection the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released at 11 a.m. AST on September 6.

Heifer Haiti has distributed information to communities on how to best shelter livestock and protect crops before the storm arrives. Representatives from Heifer Haiti also met with government officials on Tuesday and are ready to mobilize within 24 hours of the storm to provide emergency care for 30,000-50,000 animals and deploy food kits.

“Our strength [in this situation] is livestock emergency,” said Hervil Cherubin, Heifer Haiti country program director. “We might be the only one in the country with that capacity. Many organizations and the government will be assisting with food and shelters, so we will focus more on rescuing and saving the animals.” 

The next 24 hours are a critical time for Haiti and neighboring countries as the exact path of Hurricane Irma becomes clear. Heifer International stands with these communities and is ready to provide immediate support.