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A young Haitian boy uses an appliance to shield himself from the storm in Port-au-Prince yesterday. AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery

Isaac's death toll rises to nine as storm moves towards US

Storm continues to make its way towards the US coast after bringing heavy winds, rains and flooding to Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

THE DEATH TOLL from the tropical storm ‘Isaac’ has risen to nine following the confirmation by Dominican Rebublic officials of two deaths today.

Authorities said that two men were swept away by flood waters after rivers burst their banks.

Seven deaths reported earlier in neighbouring Haiti after the tropical storm made landfall there. The Caribbean nation is still struggling from the effects of the January 2010 earthquake and hundreds of thousands of people are still living in makeshift shelters and tents.

America’s National Hurricane Center has warned that the storm could reach hurricane force by the time it strikes land there later today. The storm is currently making its way towards the Florida Keys and residents in the area of its projected path have been advised to prepare themselves for the storm.

A hurricane warning is currently in effect for the Florida Deys and the west coast of Florida state. The warning has also been extended to the area east of Morgan City in Louisiana to Indian Pass in Florida, “including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain”, according to the NHC.

This AP footage shows the effects of the storm being felt along in Florida today as it approaches the US state. One couple told the AP that they came to the area to plan their wedding – and decided to ‘stick out’ the storm:

YouTube: AssociatedPress

- Additional reporting by the AP

VIDEO: Florida prepares for Hurricane Isaac as GOP cancels day one of Convention >

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7 Comments
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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
    Favourite Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Aug 26th 2012, 8:15 PM

    If i was living in a hurricane or earthquaqe area i move out. Feck that. Living in fear. I wouldnt mind if they wefe living in an irish style block house….. But wooden shacks…. In tornado alley… Where’s the scence?

    28
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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Aug 26th 2012, 8:17 PM

    Please excuse spelling. Many guinness involved.

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    Mute Sluazcanal
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    Aug 26th 2012, 8:35 PM

    If i was living in a wooden shack i would probably not be able to afford to move.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
    Favourite Declan Noonan
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    Aug 27th 2012, 1:35 AM

    Padraig, tornado alley is a area of land located in the united states! This is a hurricane which has nothing to do with a tornado. Also do you really expect whole populations of people to up and move. Maybe you should stay away from the drink?

    14
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    Mute James Patrick Smith
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    Aug 27th 2012, 12:47 AM

    @Padraig Haiti’s average yearly wage is $1200. It has 52% literacy rate and 2% of it’s people have hiv/aids and on average a 62yr life expectancy. It has a poor health service and high unemployment rate and the education system is terrible. That’s before you take into consideration the natural disasters hardly like tornado belt in America. It’s certainly not the land of opportunity now is it.

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    Mute Shayno ZO
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    Aug 27th 2012, 2:43 AM

    Haha.. If you took Haiti and $1200 out of your post you could have got away with describing Ireland.

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Aug 26th 2012, 10:10 PM

    Tornado valley people can affOrd to move. Or build a structually sound house.

    6
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