US Navy deploys aircraft carrier to Haiti for anticipated hurricane relief mission

The U.S. Navy is deploying aircraft carrier USS George Washington to Haiti in response to the hurricane Mathew which hit the Caribbean country’s coast on Tuesday.

U.S. officials said two more vessels, an amphibious landing ship and a hospital ship, would be deployed later in the week, USNI News reported.

While no official tasking was issued, the Navy expects help to be needed after the hurricane leaves a path of destruction in the country, the report further read.

Homes and crops were destroyed and livestock was swept away as the hurricane hit the country’s southern coast. Several people have been confirmed dead while the death toll is expected to rise as authorities assess the damage.

Haiti has been hit by a number of natural disasters during the last decade including floods, storms and an outbreak of cholera in 2010.

Hurricane Mathew is moving north and is expected to hit Cuba and the U.S. base Guantamo Bay which has already been evacuated. Six aircraft from U.S. Transportation Command relocated approximately 700 spouses and children, along with 65 pets, from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola in Florida.