Hurricane Gustav Claims First Victim

Haitian Man Dies In Landslide Caused By Torrential Rains; Downpour Threatens Crops

(AP)  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.

Oil prices shot up $5 a barrel Tuesday after the National Hurricane Center predicted Gustav could enter the gulf as a major hurricane this weekend. Prices of futures in natural gas, heating oil and gasoline also rose.

If Gustav continues on its path, it could drive up U.S. gasoline prices by 10 cents a gallon ahead of Labor Day weekend, predicted James Cordier, president of Tampa, Florida-based Liberty Trading Group and OptionSellers.com.

"Most indications are that Gustav will be an extremely dangerous hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean Sea in a few days," the Miami-based hurricane center said.

Gustav roared ashore Tuesday afternoon near the city of Jacmel with top sustained winds near 90 mph. 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 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 counter at the airport after the airline canceled all flights.

"I knew it was coming, but I was hoping to be out before it came," said Jody Stoltzfus, a 27-year-old missionary who had planned a visit home to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Forecasters said Gustav should slice along the southern coast of Cuba all week and grow into a perilous Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds before entering the central gulf on Sunday. Forecasters were reluctant to predict the storm's path beyond the weekend, the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

A powerful storm in the gulf could force shutdowns on the offshore rigs that account for a quarter of U.S. crude production and much of its natural gas. Royal Dutch Shell PLC said it could begin evacuating workers as soon as Wednesday.

The U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had been expecting a direct hit, but later forecasts suggested the fiercest winds and rain will pass offshore. Base spokesman Bruce Lloyd said they were preparing for emergencies in any case.

More than 4,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the Dominican Republic, while in Jamaica, officials alerted shelters to prepare for possible evacuations Wednesday.

[chimpyout]

Mother Nature may be prepared to flush the bowl, so to speak, but never fear, Mr. Heckuva Job is here!

[bob5ford]

I see that most people commenting have never had a rational, serious thought, ever. The storm is on track to hit New Orleans on Monday if the latest NOAA forecast is to be believed. It will hit as a category three storm. That will make it almost as powerful as Katrina. Rational people, both within and without government will be making plans to evacuate the city now and issuing the orders and providing transportation no later then Saturday if the track continues. We just went through Fay where I am (North Florida) and I don''t envy those in Gustav''s path.
To all those making the "funny" comments, you obviously don''t live in a hurricane prone area. Would you mind if we laugh when your areas get hit with a tornado, landslides, earthquakes or whatever natural disaster your area gets?
And to the political pundits, can Obama or McCain wave their hands and stop it? If they can, nows the time.

[forasongca]

HawkSprings: That word: "misinformed." I do not believe it means what you think. Just because Rush Hindenburg said it 29 times does not make it the truth. You yourself are repeating *Republican* neocon propaganda here.

Meanwhile, if I lived on or near the coast anywhere between Houston and Pensacola, I''d be starting to board up windows and pack the car. All eyes are on Haiti and Cuba right now, but Gustav is heading right for the Gulf states.

[questionnews]

"Hurricane Gustav Makes Landfall In Haiti"

Wow! By the time this hurricane passes by there could be hundreds of dollars in damage!! Send aid now!

[haoli25]

Send some Mr. Bubble and Ivory Soap to Haiti.

[hawksprings]

Jenny, jenny, jenny...
You are a sad, missinformed little girl.

Gas rose to $4 as a result of Democrat policies, obstruction and incompetence.

Democrats like the Clintons, Kerry, Peloozi, Gore, et al were saying Saddam was a threat with WMD''s before Bush was ever elected.

You need to look past the Democrat Communist Propoganda and see the facts.

[jenny1233-2009]

How does it feel to side with red-neck mentality ?

How does it feel to be on the side of anti-abortion and know that your Republican president had the chance to change the laws in the first four years of his administration, before the Democrats took over
Congress and the Senate ?

How does it feel to pay for four dollar gas ?

How does it feel to support a war with the lives of our young men that did not need to be fought ?

How does it feel to now vote For John Mc Cain when we have it from his own lips that he voted 90% of the time with George Bush ? I assume he was voting with his heart and best judgment.

John Mc Cain graduated 845 in a class of 849 from the U.S. Naval Academy. It doesn''t seem as though he learned very much.

[generey]

Port-Au-Prince Gets Drenched, Storm Adds $5 Per Barrel To The Price Of Oil.

Thats funny; no matter what happens or where it becomes a reason to increase the price of oil. Too funny.

[jamesetling]

This may turn into another monster. Maybe wipe out New Orleans again. Or maybe this time Tampa.

[antoniof123]

One thing that really makes me laugh is when some clown says its god''s will. That is a bunch of garbage.

First of all God created the universe he doesn''t have to do a thing he owns it all. So why do nut cases always try to blame God when things go wrong blame the devil, blame yourself but God he is just watching and laughing at all the clowns that we have become.

[sly_64]

Hwy71So :

If I could read their minds, they wouldn''t have to speak to me. Just think at me.

[hwy71so]

"That''''s why I say if you beleive in God, and he''''s all powerful and all knowing, why pray ? He knows what you think, and what you''''re doing. Don''''t try to influence him by praying.

Posted by sly_64 at 09:45 AM : Aug 26, 2008"

How would you feel if your kids never spoke to you?

[hwy71so]

Don''t tell me Bush is building another hurricane. The libs are gonna be hot!!!

That guy. Wish I knew his storm making secret. There''s several places in Texas and Arkansas that could use the rain.

[petro49l]

Hurricane Gustav should be taken seriously. There is a potential for flooding in the Gulf Coast Region. Residents could be damaged by the storm. FEMA must be vigilant in case another situation like Hurricane Katrina occurs.

[dnamj]

I hope that the news gets out and people do what they can. It is a crime to have Haiti in the condition it''s in as our neighbor, and we haven''t done enough to help.

[sly_64]

That''s why I say if you beleive in God, and he''s all powerful and all knowing, why pray ? He knows what you think, and what you''re doing. Don''t try to influence him by praying.

[godseyesore-2009]

God''s will? If true, why would anyone with a brain put credence in a capricious vile hateful entity that kills the innocent? Total brain dead idiocy.

[sly_64]

Yeah, they better pray and try to change God''s will.

[sistatee-2009]

Quick! Fly all that Haitian coke to Miami for safekeeping! Oops....sorry....they already did that.