Many people with families in Hurricane Matthew's path are hoping and praying. A New Haven church has a plan to help those who will need it the most.
Hundreds of Haitian-Americans live in the New Haven area and thousands more reside across Connecticut. Many have their eyes on Hurricane Matthew as the storm barrels toward their homeland. Fifteen hundred miles away from Haiti, and the potential impact of the storm could be felt in a small church in the Elm City.
“You can’t turn your back on it so you have to face it,” said Reverend Leonce Alexis of the French Speaking Baptist Church of New Haven. The congregation is made up of Haitian-Americans with deep ties to the island nation.
“We have siblings,” said Rev. Alexis of loved ones currently in Haiti. “We have family members, cousins, mother, father, you name it.”
Some areas could see up to 40 inches of rain, triggering mudslides.
“We hope for the best. We do know the Haitian people are very strong,” said Alexis. “They get through some tough time.”
Haiti is still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake six years ago.
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Rev. Alexis and other church members were there helping in the aftermath then and they vow to be there again - with food, clothing and supplies - if need be.
“We’re going to keep a close eye on the storm to see what happens,” he said. “I believe they are going to get through it and by my faith, God will help them out.”
Hurricane Matthew is being blamed for at least three deaths, one of which was in Haiti. The government there is urging people to take cover in shelters until this massive storm moves on.
