Following on the heels of Hurricane Gustav - Tropical storm Hanna threatens the Caribbean

Just days after Hurricane Gustav caused mass destruction in the Caribbean, another storm Hanna is making its way through the region.

Hanna which was downgraded earlier in the day from a Category 1 hurricane had top wind speeds of 70 miles per hour (mph), according to the National Hurricane Centre. It eventually picked up some speed as it moved the northwest and is expected to pick up speed.

Hanna has already caused severe flooding in Haiti’s port city of Gonaives, and according to authorities, rescue efforts have been hampered because of flooded bridges and roads, some of which were already washed away by hurricane Gustav last week. Authorities also indicated that at least 10 people have already been killed by Hanna. The Turks and Caicos also experienced some severe weather during the passage of Hanna, but no serious incidents have yet been reported.

The Bahamas Red Cross is currently monitoring the situation as Hanna was located about 20 miles west-southwest of Great Inagua Island in southern Bahamas. Kim Sawyer, senior administrator, Bahamas Red Cross said they were currently gathering updates from all the family islands where Red Cross volunteers have been monitoring the situation.

“We are in the process of purchasing supplies, some of which has already been delivered to the Red Cross. We have Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs) on alert in Long Island, Exuma and New Providence.”

Kim said they were not going to set up shelters since this was the responsibility of  Social Services, however, she noted that the Red Cross will work with them and provide volunteers to do First Aid in the shelters.

Additionally, she said that a shipment of relief items has been sent to the island of Abaco which is expected to be affected by Hanna.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) has released 25,000 Swiss Francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to assist in relief operations and the Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) is ready to deploy a disaster management delegate and a Regional Intervention Team (RIT) member if the need arises.