A view of a refugee camp, once a golf course, set up for earthquake-displaced people in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, July 22, 2011. Haiti’s President Michel Martelly launched several projects to rebuild the capital’s downtown area. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

While Emily’s path and exact strength are a bit uncertain, one thing is for sure: Heavy rain will threaten more lives in the impoverished nation.

According to the International Organization for Migration, a year and a half after the disastrous quake that devastated Haiti, over 600,000 people live in settlement camps. A number of these people still have no roof, or canvas, over their heads and are sleeping on parking lots.

The nation remains as a potential disaster area, not only from future earthquakes, but also the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and mudslides that any tropical wave or organized tropical system, like Emily, may produce.

If Emily crosses part of Hispaniola as projected, the hillsides and mountains may focus the rainfall leading to excessive amounts in some locations. This can occur even with a mere tropical storm, let alone a hurricane.

Deforestation on the island nation will compound the problem, increasing the rate of runoff and the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.

People are urged to move to higher, stable ground prior to the arrival of Emily’s rainfall slated to hit in bulk on Wednesday.

Even after Emily leaves later in the week, additional threats from tropical storms and hurricanes will follow as the bulk of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season lies ahead.