The tail end of Tropical Storm Noel triggered mudslides and floods in the Dominican Republic and Haiti as the death toll rose to 60 on Wednesday—deadlier than all but one Atlantic hurricane this season.

The slow-moving storm lurched out of Cuba and stalled over the Atlantic, but was projected to skirt Florida and batter the Bahamas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

With rain still falling two days after the storm hit, rescuers were struggling to reach communities cut off by flooding on the island of Hispaniola. As they did, they found a rising toll of death and damage—at least 41 dead in the Dominican Republic, 18 in Haiti and one in Jamaica.

At least 50,500 Dominicans fled their homes, 12,000 of which were damaged, said Luis Antonio Luna, head of the Emergencies Commission. Flooding also forced the evacuation of about 1,000 prisoners from a prison north of the Dominican capital.

Luna said officials were trying to reach dozens of isolated communities, but bad weather, a lack of helicopters and damage to bridges and highways slowed rescue efforts. [AP]

Tornado supplies kit: You and your family can cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you’ve gathered supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation (or home confinement).

Gather the supplies that are listed. You and your family may need them. Place the supplies you’d most likely need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. These supplies are listed with an asterisk (*).

Medical Dictionary T, Tornado supplies kitMedical Dictionary T, Tornado supplies kit

MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Capt. Karl Schultz, directed the ports of Miami, Port Everglade in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Palm Beach and Fort Pierce Indian River Terminal to set Hurricane Condition WHISKEY effective 9 a.m. Tuesday. The COTP has also directed the closure of the Port Everglade anchorage area to all vessels until further notice.Hurricane Condition Whiskey is set when sustained Gale Force winds from a hurricane force storm are predicted within 72 hours.

All mariners are reminded that there are no safe havens in the port areas listed and that the port is safest when the inventory of vessels is at a minimum. Both oceangoing and inland vessels and barges over 500 gross tons that wish to remain in the ports listed above must submit a Remaining in Port Checklist to the Captain of the Port and should contact the Prevention Office immediately. If/when Condition Yankee is set, vessel movement will be restricted and allowed only on a case-by-case basis by approval of the COTP. All vessels expecting to conduct cargo operations during Condition Yankee shall submit a Cargo Operations Plan to terminal owners for approval. All ship-to-shore operations must be completed six hours prior to the setting of Port Condition ZULU.

• Container stacking plans should be implemented. Waterfront facilities that, due to space constraints, are unable to reduce container stacking height to no more than four high, must submit a container stacking protocol to the COTP for approval.
• The COTP will convene the Strategic Weather Advisory Team via conference call.
• Drawbridges may be locked down as early as eight hours prior to the anticipated arrival of sustained gail force winds.
• All private boat owners are strongly encouraged to secure their vessel and gear.

Conditions are expected to worsen through Wednesday with winds up to 45 knots from the northeast and seas are expected to be up to 19 feet. Inland waterways are expected to be rough. All marine interests must take early and substantial action to ensure safety of the port and vessels.