13282: Chamberlain posts (news item): Storm hits Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By MICHAEL NORTON

   LES CAYES, Sept 27 (AP) -- Lili regained tropical storm strength Friday
and pelted southern Haiti with rain from more than 200 miles away. The
storm was moving toward Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cuba.
   The storm got stronger a day after weakening into a tropical depression.
In about three days, Lili could reach hurricane strength, said
meteorologist Hugh Cobb at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
   Lili's winds were near 45 mph at 5 p.m. EDT. It was centered about 125
miles southeast of Kingston, the Jamaican capital, and was moving northwest
at 7 mph.
   Jamaica posted a tropical storm warning, the Cayman Islands went on
tropical storm alert, and a tropical storm watch was posted for eastern
Cuba.
   Lili could strike Jamaica Saturday morning, said Frank Lepore, an
information officer at the Hurricane Center. He said it was at least two
days away from the Cayman Islands and Cuba.
   Heavy rains and occasional gusts of wind buffeted southeast Haiti,
especially the seaside resort of Jacmel, raising fears of mudslides in
surrounding hilly country, said forecaster Ronald Semelfort of the National
Weather Bureau.
   Lili caused four deaths in St. Vincent early Tuesday, damaged 400 homes
in Barbados and destroyed about half of St. Lucia's banana crop -- the
island's main export.