Tropical storm Isaac lashes Haiti, 400,000 homeless

Rains led to heavy flooding in Haiti's capital of Port au Prince, and damaged camps housing people still recovering from the 2010 earthquake. Cuba and Southern Florida are now bracing themselves as the storm makes its way north.

The tropical storm blasted Haiti with heavy winds and rain. Forecasters estimate Isaac dumped as much as 50 centimetres of rain and produced a storm surge of up to nearly a metre.

In an area where more than 350,000 survivors of 2010's devastating earthquake remain homeless the potential damage was huge.

The biggest immediate concern was the heavily deforested areas, where Isaac's rains could trigger deadly flash flooding and mudslides.

People tried desperately to salvage their few belongings, after the storm ripped up tents while some camp residents voiced their displeasure with the government. They are unhappy with President Michel Martelly and his government for not doing enough to help the people ahead of the arrival of the storm.

Chomene Claire, Camp Resident, said, "We are living in the camp, we have children and we are having hard time sleeping. We don't even have a cover for the tent and last night we had to stay awake and stay standing up all night with our children. I would like to tell President Martelly something. On that Sunday election day, I was hungry and we wanted change that is why I voted for you."

As many fear the flooding could help re-ignite a cholera epidemic, about 1,250 shelters opened their doors to those seeking refuge. More than 3,000 volunteers from the government's Civil Protection Office also warned people across the country about flooding and landslide risks.

As the storm moves its way north on a path for the Gulf of Mexico...Cuba and southern Florida are making preparations. The Cuban government has declared a state of alert in six provinces and evacuated thousands of people from high-risk areas. In the Florida Keys they are making sure emergency services are ready as the storm is forecast to make landfall there on Sunday. Iain McKinnell CCTV.