Hurricane Matthew threatens Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba

Hurricane Matthew, a potentially devastating Category 4 storm, swirled across the Caribbean today toward Haiti and Jamaica, where residents frantically stocked up on emergency supplies and authorities urged people to evacuate threatened areas.

Matthew is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history and briefly reached the top classification, Category 5, becoming the strongest hurricane here since Felix in 2007.

The latest projections show Matthew’s center likely to strike the southwestern tip of Haiti tomorrow. A hurricane warning has been issued for the impoverished country which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.

Deforestation has greatly increased the potential for devastating floods and landslides on Haiti and the country’s ramshackle homes and buildings are vulnerable to storms.

In Haiti, civil protection officials broadcast warnings of a coming storm surge and big waves.