Caribbean Braced for Hurricane Dean

Hurricane Dean killed at least five people before strengthening early Sunday on its collision course with Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

The deaths were reported in the Lesser Antilles, where hurricane winds reached 145 mph and were forecast to be in excess of 155 mph as the storm increases to a Category 5 later Sunday, CNN reported.

Dean early Sunday brushed the coast of Haiti — the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere — where few people were reported prepared because they cannot afford wood to board windows and extra food and emergency supplies, CNN said.

After a full day of evacuations Saturday, flights out of the western Caribbean were suspended Sunday until the storm has passed. Residents of Jamaica visiting the Cayman Islands were stranded as preference was given to American tourists trying to reach the states before the storm hit, The Sunday Jamaica Gleaner reporter.

Total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches was expected over Jamaica, with maximum amounts of up to 20 inches, while Southern Haiti could receive a maximum of 10 inches. A coastal storm surge of 7 to 9 feet over normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous waves, was forecast.