Haitian Officials say at least 331 people have been killed in the storms in this desperately poor Caribbean nation. In the hard-hit region of Artibonite, which includes Gonaives, Hanna killed at least 172.
As the floodwaters recede and more bodies surface, Haiti's government has all but given up trying to update the death toll. A committee that typically keeps track of such things in Gonaives disasters has disbanded, because its members were among the tens of thousands who lost their homes.
Hurricane Hanna formed east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands on August 28. At least 532 deaths have been reported, mostly due to flooding in the northern part of Haiti, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Stan in 2005. It is also noted for being one of the somewhat rare storms to affect the northeastern United States as a tropical storm.
Haiti, already rain-saturated by Fay and Gustav, was hit hard by flooding and mudslides from several days of heavy rainfall, particularly in the city of Gonaives which suffered catastrophic damage in 2004 from Hurricane Jeanne. Nearly the entire city was flooded with water as high as 2 meters (6.6 feet) deep, and some had to be rescued on their roofs. In Les Cayes, a hospital had to be evacuated as it was swamped by flood water. At least 5,000 people there were moved to public shelters due to the flooding.
The United Nations have ordered relief convoys to the hard-hit region, including rafts to help rescue victims. As of late on September 4, Haiti's government said the death toll from Tropical Storm Hanna has increased to at least 529, with most of the deaths coming in the flooded port city of Gonaives, where the destruction is described as "catastrophic" and 495 bodies were discovered as of late on September 5. Haitian authorities said the tally could grow once officials are able to make their way through Gonaives. "The assessment is only partial, because it is impossible to enter the city for the moment", Gonaives Mayor Stephen Moise said.
In the aftermath of Hanna at least 48,000 from the Gonaives areas have gone to shelters. Some people sleep on the roofs of their house protecting them from looters. The catastrophe has left many homeless begging for food and clothes. Others have left for the mountains hoping to wait out the next storms on the horizon. People are starting to get frustrated with the assistance that has come. Very little of aid has come from international organizations. Bridges north and south of Gonaives collapsed and the roads are swampy lakes and it is extremely difficult to get to the city by road.
