Continuing Promise Mission Suspends Operations in Haiti Due to TS Irene

The Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11) mission team, embarked aboard USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), will suspend operations in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 21, in anticipation of severe weather heading toward the area.

Tropical storm Irene is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Hispaniola between Aug. 22-23.

Comfort and its crew have been directed by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command to depart the area and seek safe haven until the tropical storm has passed. Comfort will remain in the area while damage assessments are conducted.

Haiti is the ninth and final stop of the CP11 deployment, a five-month humanitarian assistance mission providing medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support to the Caribbean Basin and Central and South America.

Since its arrival to Port-au-Prince Aug. 18, Comfort has treated approximately 1,450 patients and performed 15 surgeries. 

Source: U.S. Navy