Haiti Hurricane Matthew relief effort bolstered by team of Albertans

A group of men and women from Airdriewillheadto Haiti this Fridayto provide emergency relief for those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyedby Hurricane Matthew.

At least 1,000 people are dead, and many more are in need of emergency food and shelterafter the tropical stormlashed the western shores of the country with howling 233 km/h winds last week, knocking down trees and tearing off roofs in the poor and largely rural area, while inundating neighbourhoods in floodwaters and mud.

"They lost their homes, rooftop blown away," said Marc Honorat, who was born and raised in Haiti, and whose family still lives there.

Honoratand his wife Lisa are theco-founders of Haiti Arise Ministries, which hasprovided healthcare, elementary and technical skills education, drilled wells, built homes, and spearheadedother community projectsin Haitisince 2003.

"For us, it's really important to work with the grassroots and local organizations that are making a difference long term, not just doing the immediate disaster relief, which is necessary, but also for the rehabilitation and development long term," Lisa told CBC's The Homestretch.

Clean water a priority

Haiti Arisewill first sendasmall assessment team to GrandGove, acommunity at the heart of where the devastation hit, approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Port-au-Prince.

Roughly 600 homes in the area have been destroyed, with another1,750 damaged, according to the organization.

Much of the livestock and vegetation in the area have been destroyedand heavy flooding has contaminated water sources, resulting in an outbreak ofcholera.

• 'Nobody has come to help': Health conditions worsen as aid trickles into Haiti

Clean water will be one of the first priorities for the three volunteer teams that will headdownbeginning Oct. 21, Lisa said.

They will bring water filtration systemsand will inspect all 85 wells that the organization has built in the area since 2010 to make sure they have not been contaminated.

The group is still looking for people who may be interested in donating their time to the immediate relief effort, particularly "if they know how to run a chainsaw to help clear debris," Lisa said.

Other individuals with specific skills in healthcare, construction, carpentry and electrical wiring would also be greatly appreciated.

With files from CBC's The Homestretch