Gustav Update

Gustav strengthened from a Tropical Storm, to a Category 1 Hurricane before hitting Haiti and then weakening again - now a tropical storm again. I've heard through a friends' adoption agency that the orphanage, in Port-au-Prince, is doing fine. They have not had the strong winds, but have had a lot of rain - must be close to 48 hours straight of rain by now, and according to weather.com, scattered storms forecast through the weekend.

From Forbes.com, 8/26:

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Hurricane Gustav dumped torrential rains across southern Haiti on Tuesday, killing at least one man and threatening crops amid protests over high food prices. Global fuel futures soared on fears Gustav could move into the Gulf of Mexico as an "extremely dangerous" storm.

Trees toppled as the storm lingered for hours over Haiti's poor, deforested southern peninsula, and water levels were rising in banana, bean and vegetable fields. One man was killed in a landslide in the mountain town of Benet, civil protection director Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste told Radio Metropole.

"If the rain continues, we'll be flooded," U.N. food consultant Jean Gardy said from the southeastern town of Marigot.

Hundreds of people in coastal Les Cayes ignored government warnings to seek shelter, instead throwing rocks to protest the high cost of living in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country. Witnesses said U.N. peacekeepers used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Haiti is a tinderbox because of soaring food prices, which in April led to deadly protests and the ouster of the nation's prime minister. It was difficult to ascertain the extent of the damage to the nation's crops on Tuesday because of Haiti's poor infrastructure and faulty communications.
...
Gustav roared ashore Tuesday afternoon near the city of Jacmel with top sustained winds near 90 mph (145 kph). Heavy rains pelted the area as winds bent palm trees and kicked up surf along waterfronts of dilapidated wooden buildings.

Patrice Tallyrand, 43, fled with his family to a friend's home after Gustav knocked down four trees in their back yard in the southern town of Kabik.

"We had to leave the house before it got worse," he said.

Forty miles (65 kms) to the north, residents in the capital wrapped themselves in plastic sheeting against the rain and wind as they ran home in advance of the storm. Businesses closed early, and stranded travelers mobbed the American Airlines (nyse: AMR - news - people ) counter at the airport after the airline canceled all flights...

I also follow blogs for a few missionary families in Haiti. The Livesay's just in the past week have been moving into Port-au-Prince from LaDigue. They had a tidbit about Gustav on their last post, although it was brief because they had to travel to get internet access because of their recent move. The Pye's live near the Southern coastal city of Jacmel, which is very close to where Gustav made landfall. They posted both yesterday and today about the trials they're experiencing. It is frightening to say the least. Please continue to pray for all who are affected, and continued safety for the orphanage, that has thus far been spared.