Evacuations in Guantanamo, Haiti as fierce Hurricane Matthew looms

[Little Tich]

Source: Reuters

The United States prepared to airlift hundreds of people from its Guantanamo Bay naval base as the most powerful cyclone to form over the Atlantic since Hurricane Felix in 2007 ground slowly toward Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba.

Haiti also began evacuating residents by boat from outlying islands in preparation for Hurricane Matthew, which threatens to wreak widespread damage in the region with flash floods and winds at about 150 miles per hour (240 kph).

Matthew is expected to make landfall as a major storm on Jamaica's southern coast, home to the capital, Kingston, and its only oil refinery. Stormy weather could begin on Sunday.

Simultaneously, the storm is forecast to lash southern Haiti, possibly dumping up to 40 inches (101 cm) of rain there and up to 25 inches (64 cm) in Jamaica, which could trigger life-threatening landslides and floods, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-matthew-idUSKCN122023

[hedda_foil]

1. What about the prisoners????

[Ms. Toad]

2. I guess if they all drown, it solves a lot of problems . . .

about what to do with them.

And, after all, what's a bit of informal waterboarding among friends

In case it's necessary:

[truthisfreedom]

5. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/09/ike_goes_to_gitmo.html

Google is your friend.

[Warpy]

3. Track keeps shifting east

away from Jamaica and onto Haiti. The biggest problem with this one is that it seems to be moving very slowly and will dump a lot of rain on everybody in the area, meaning landslides.

I just hope everybody on the shore gets away from the shore.

[Baclava]

6. But it's not a point on a map - this thing is 600 miles wide!

[Warpy]

9. Yes, which is why rain is going to be such a problem

You might find the maps at NOAA more instructive since they show visible, infrared, and rain rate and put it all into motion.

[Baclava]

10. I've seen all the maps - heard TWC say Haiti could get 40" of rain from that blob off to the east

still heading NW - straight towards Jamaica

[applegrove]

4. Vibes to those in Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba.

[rose822]

7. Obama's big chance to move the prisoners off the Island

It's costing too much money to keep them their. That money can be used for free Colleges. Our justice system on the main land will take care of them just like Ramzi Yousef and Timothy.

[lastlib]

8. This massive hurricane is part of Obama's secret plot.....

...to move Islamic turrists to 'Murica where they can kill us all! Don't let him!

.

[SCantiGOP]

13. No chance to move prisoners

Congress has blocked that. President can't override it.

[Nitram]

11. I hope the storm doesn't drown our prisoners. If it does, it is the Republican Congressional

majority that will have to answer for it. Obama promised to close the camp, and the GOP blocked every effort to do so.

[tavernier]

12. Oh please

It's like no one ever went through a hurricane. It's a horrendous storm, but it won't be a 5 when it hits. I'm a bit north and we survive these all the time. I'm sure they are prepared.

[Baclava]

14. Yes, the hype will build for the U.S. - but the tin shack villages will still suffer greatly

Not everything is about a US landfall...this is a historic storm for where it's going to hit first

[tavernier]

15. Please don't misunderstand

My heart goes out to my close neighbors in countries and islands. We in the Keys always have and will continue to support them with money and food and supplies, much more than ppl far from these ravaged areas can understand. But they won't get the attention and care that prisoners in our care will receive.

[Baclava]

16. The Keys are a special place

I think you are OK with this one