May 2004 Caribbean floods

Due to its geographic location, Haiti is especially vulnerable to storm surges and hydrometeorological disasters. Nestled in the Atlantic Basin, Haiti's mountainous topography and weakened natural barriers exacerbate the effects of storms. Deforestation, construction, and mismanaged land use have led to a deterioration in natural barriers such as mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, and sand dunes, further debilitating Haiti's ability to withstand intense storms and to provide emergency services. {{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |date=July–December 2004 |title=Newsletter of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee |url=https://repositorio.cepal.org/bitstream/handle/11362/38461/FOCUSIssueJul-Dec2004.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y}} The damage to Haiti's already weak infrastructure and lack of natural barriers intensive efforts to secure food, water, and humanitarian relief required.{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - At least 900 dead in Caribbean flooding - May 28, 2004 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/05/28/caribbean.storm/index.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=CNN}}

A broad low pressure area developed over Central America on May 19, accompanied by heavy rainfall.{{cite report|author=Jarvinen/Avila|date=2004-05-19|title=Special Tropical Disturbance Statement|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/DSAAT/2004/DSAAT.200405191247}} The system drifted eastward into the Caribbean Sea,{{cite web|author=Gary Padgett|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary May 2004|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0405.htm}} and by May 23 was located in the central Caribbean, producing rainfall across Jamaica, eastern Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Upper-level winds prevented tropical cyclogenesis of the system.{{cite report|author=James Franklin|date=2004-05-23|title=Special Tropical Disturbance Statement|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/DSAAT/2004/DSAAT.200405231517}} However, the low had characteristics of a subtropical cyclone, with a closed atmospheric circulation and extensive convection extending to the northeast of the system. The interaction between the low and a high pressure area over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean produced winds of around {{convert|25|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} across the region.

The system moved slowly across the Greater Antilles. By early on May 24, the low was located south of Haiti and was interacting with a tropical wave.{{cite report|author=Mike Wallace|date=2004-05-24|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2004/TWDAT.200405240609}} Later that day, the system moved over southwestern Haiti,{{cite report|author=Pralgo|date=2004-05-24|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2004/TWDAT.200405241750}} crossing into the Bahamas by May 25.{{cite report|author=MT|date=2004-05-25|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2004/TWDAT.200405250632}} Later that day, the National Hurricane Center briefly noted the possibility of the system developing into a tropical cyclone, noting its well-defined circulation. Although there was a lack of convection near the center, there was a potential for the shear to diminish.{{cite report|author=Blake|date=2004-05-25|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2004/TWDAT.200405251749}} However, by late on May 26, the system no longer had a chance for development after it began moving quickly to the northeast.{{cite report|author=Blake|date=2004-05-26|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2004/TWDAT.200405261729}} By May 27, the system was located about 190 mi (305 km) east of Bermuda, connected to a trough that extended to Hispaniola.{{cite report|author=MT|date=2004-05-27|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2012-04-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2004/TWDAT.200405270621}}

Widespread flooding and rising rivers had serious consequences in several parts of the country, including the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, and the town of Fond Verrettes. The road linking the two areas was unusable, so air transport was the only option. Fond Verrettes was almost completely washed away, and a mudslide swept away more than 500 houses in the town.{{Cite web |last=UN News |date=28 May 2004 |title=Thousands of flood victims in Haiti, Dominican Republic need urgent aid - UN |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2004/05/105052 |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=United Nations}}

In addition, the town of Mapou, located 50 km southeast of the capital, was cut off by flooding.{{Cite web |last=Cruz Roja Española |date=18 June 2004 |title=Plan de Acción ante las Situaciones de Vulnerabilidad Originadas por las Inundaciones en República Dominicana y Haití |url=http://www.cruzroja.es/pls/portal30/docs/PAGE/SITE_CRE/PAGINAS/OPERACIONES_ESPECIALES/AMERICA_OP_ESPECIALES/INUNDACIONES_HAITI/PLAN%20DE%20ACCI%D3N%20CRE%20INUNDACIONES.PDF |access-date=October 29, 2022}} The water reached a depth of more than 3 metres.{{Cite web |last=Aljazeera |date=28 May 2004 |title=Aid rushed to survivors of Caribbean floods |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/5/28/aid-rushed-to-survivors-of-caribbean-floods |access-date=October 29, 2022}} Consequently, 1,300 houses, almost half of Mapou's houses, were severely damaged.{{Cite web |last=NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information |date=June 2004 |title=Global Hazards for May 2004 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/hazards/200405 |access-date=October 29, 2022}} In the area surrounding Mapou, more than 35 villages were affected.

Approximately 5,000 families were displaced throughout the country.

Floods occurred in the south, northwest, and northeast areas of the country. Telephone communications and electricity were affected, as was the supply of drinking water due to damage to 21 aqueducts in the country. The most damaged area was the community of Jimani, in the west of the country. More than 300 houses were demolished there. Patients at the hospital of Jimani had to be evacuated because the facilities were severely flooded.{{Cite web |last=Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) |date=July 2004 |title=Disasters. Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas |url=https://www.paho.org/disasters/dmdocuments/ped704e.pdf |access-date=October 29, 2022}}

Moreover, other provinces such as Barahona, Bahoruco, Elías Piña and Duarte also suffered the consequences of the floods. Duarte's rice crops represented 70% of all rice crops in the Dominican Republic.{{Cite journal |last=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |date=1 June 2004 |title=Dominican Republic and Haiti: Floods |url=https://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/04/130401arev.pdf |journal=}} Due to the flood, thousands of hectares of rice crops in this area, as well as banana crops were destroyed. Also in this northeastern province of Duarte, around 100 families had to be relocated to temporary shelters.

Across the Dominican Republic, 3,112 houses were affected in some way by the floods. Around 3,000 families were displaced. Given the extent of the damage, the Dominican Republic National Emergency Commission declared a yellow alert in the country.

Authorities of the Dominican Republic buried more than 250 bodies immediately and sprayed disinfectant from aircraft over Jimani to prevent the spread of disease from decomposing bodies.{{Cite web |title=Relief teams scramble as Caribbean flood toll grows |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-05/28/content_334644.htm |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}} They also sent the army to search for victims by using dogs and shovels. In addition, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) Coordinating Unit promptly contacted with multi-lateral and bi-lateral counterparts in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to ascertain needs, monitor the situation as it evolved and provide SitReps (Situation Reports) and needs information. Social Service of Dominican Churches (SSID) began an initial assessment of difficulty in accessing water-logged regions.{{Cite web |title=Dominican Republic/Haiti Floods: CWS/ERP Situation Report 1 Jun 2004 - Dominican Republic {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominican-republic/dominican-republichaiti-floods-cwserp-situation-report-1-jun-2004 |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=reliefweb.int |date=June 2004 |language=en}} It also assessed damages and losses in the communities where it worked, and prepared a multi-year food security proposal targeting families whose food security situation was severely affected by the disaster. Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Service Chrétien d'Haiti (SCH) applied to Church World Service (CWS) for the reallocation of food shipment to flood survivors that had originally been intended for use in response to Haiti's recent social and political unrest.

The international community led by the United Nations (UN) responded very quickly to the emergency in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The UN dispatched a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) to coordinate donor response activity in the affected countries.

Many other countries and regions also provided emergency assistance:

• The United States led military force ferried emergency aid to a hard-hit Haitian town;{{Cite news |last=Prengaman |first=Peter |date=2004-05-26 |title=Hundreds Are Dead In Caribbean Floods |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/05/26/hundreds-are-dead-in-caribbean-floods/ec4e2024-9c8e-4694-9ac9-60dfd3b3d553/ |access-date=2022-10-30 |issn=0190-8286}}
• The British Virgin Islands pledged US$20,000;{{Cite web |title=Haiti/Dominican Republic Floods situation report # 2 - Dominican Republic {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominican-republic/haitidominican-republic-floods-situation-report-2 |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=reliefweb.int |date=14 June 2004 |language=en}}
• Belize pledged one container of relief supplies for each of the affected countries and BZ$25,000 through the Red Cross;
• Jamaica donated medical supplies and equipment that were sent by boat;
• Ireland pledged up to €100,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance in response to flooding and storms in both countries;{{Cite web |title=Government pledges assistance to victims of floods in the Caribbean - Haiti {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/government-pledges-assistance-victims-floods-caribbean |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=reliefweb.int |date=26 May 2004 |language=en}}
• The European Union sent an emergency package worth about €2 million ($2.43 m).{{Cite news |date=2004-05-27 |title=Bid to ease Caribbean flood woes |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3752115.stm |access-date=2022-10-30}}

On May 26, 2004, the official death toll in both countries totalled 870.{{Cite web |title=Caribbean Floods |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/caribbean-floods/ |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=27 May 2004 |language=en-US}} By May 29, 2004, the number of deaths had skyrocketed. In Haiti death tolls were at 1,800:{{Cite web |title=Tens Of Thousands Hit By Floods In Caribbean |url=https://countercurrents.org/cc-fallon300504.htm |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=countercurrents.org}} 1,000 (Mapou), 548 (Bodarie, Thiotte, Grand Gosier), 250 (Fonds-Verettes), 2 (Port-a-Piment).{{Cite web |last=Port-au-Prince |first=Agencies in Santo Domingo and |date=2004-05-26 |title=More than 500 feared killed by floods |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/26/3 |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} On the Dominican side, death tolls were at 415: 393 (Jimaní) and 22 (Elia Piña, Duarte, Sanchez).{{Cite news |last1=Weiner |first1=Tim |last2=Polgreen |first2=Lydia |date=2004-05-28 |title=Grief as Haitians And Dominicans Tally Flood Toll |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/28/world/grief-as-haitians-and-dominicans-tally-flood-toll.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}

Changes in the ecosystems led to an increase in vector (mosquito) population. Both countries reported Malaria outbreaks with 13,157 cases reported in 2004 compared to 1,529 cases reported in 2003.{{Cite web |title=PAHO/WHO Data - Malaria |url=https://www3.paho.org/data/index.php/en/mnu-topics/indicadores-malaria-en.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=www3.paho.org}} There was also a low incidence of classic dengue with 2,340 cases reported in total.{{Cite web |last=Gutiérrez |first=Luis A. |date=2015-03-11 |title=PAHO/WHO Data - Dengue and Severe Dengue {{!}} PAHO/WHO |url=https://www3.paho.org/data/index.php/en/mnu-topics/indicadores-dengue-en/dengue-regional-en/261-dengue-reg-ano-en.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization |language=es-es}}

Damage to the water and sanitation infrastructure also led to water-borne disease outbreaks. Prior to the floods, Rotavirus disease was a major health issue in both countries - accounting for 42% of all diarrheal deaths.{{Cite web |last=PATH |date=20 October 2022 |title=Rotavirus disease and vaccines in Haiti |url=https://media.path.org/documents/VAD_rotavirus_haiti_fs.pdf?_gl=1*ghrhzb*_ga*MTQ5Njg3NTQ0MS4xNjY3MTc0MzY1*_ga_YBSE7ZKDQM*MTY2NzE3NDM2NS4xLjAuMTY2NzE3NDM2NS4wLjAuMA.. |access-date=20 October 2022 |website=PATH}} In 2004, both countries reported a sharp increase in rotavirus infections. A total of 275 deaths were reported in Independencia Province.{{Cite web |title=Dominican Republic |url=https://platform.who.int/mortality/countries/country-details/MDB/dominican-republic |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=platform.who.int |language=en}} There were no leptospirosis and cholera cases reported in both countries^.  However, the damaging effects of this and subsequent disasters continuously weakened the water and sanitation infrastructure which eventually led to a major cholera outbreak in 2010.{{Cite journal |last1=Orata |first1=Fabini |last2=Keim |first2=Paul |last3=Boucher |first3=Yan |date=3 April 2014 |title=The 2010 Cholera Outbreak in Haiti: How Science Solved a Controversy |journal=PLOS Pathogens |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=1003967 |doi=10.1371/journal.ppat.1003967 |pmid=24699938 |pmc=3974815 |doi-access=free}}

Prior to the floods, both countries had the highest Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence rate outside of sub-Saharan Africa.{{Cite journal |last1=Malow |first1=Robert |last2=Rosenberg |first2=Rhonda |last3=Lichenstein |first3=Bronwen |last4=Dévieux |first4=Jessy |title=The Impact of Disaster on HIV in Haiti and Priority Areas Related to the Haitian Crisis |journal=The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care |year=2010 |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=283–288 |doi=10.1016/j.jana.2010.02.002 |pmid=20416497 |pmc=2862993 }} The floods had exacerbated the HIV and TB epidemic in both countries. Although the prevalence of new cases seemed low, a disruption in access to multi-level biomedical interventions led to an increase in mortality rates. HIV death rates in the Dominican Republic alone reached 80.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2004.{{Cite web |last=PLISA Health Information Platform for the America |date=1 October 2022 |title=PAHO/WHO Data - Mortality trends: cause of deaths compare {{!}} PAHO/WHO |url=https://www3.paho.org/data/index.php/en/indicators-mortality/mortality-trends-by-cause-of-death-sex-and-country-2000-2016.html |access-date=21 October 2022 |website=Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization |language=es-es}} The floods also disrupted immunisation programs for vaccine-preventable diseases. Poor immunisation coverage for diphtheria led to an outbreak in 2004 in the Dominican Republic and a resurgence in Haiti since December 2014{{Why|date=November 2022}}.{{Cite web |title=Diphtheria reported cases and incidence |url=https://immunizationdata.who.int/pages/incidence/diphtheria.html?CODE=HTI+DOM&YEAR= |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=immunizationdata.who.int}}

The health impact of disasters such as the 2004 Caribbean floods are complex and cascading.{{Cite book |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781315115603/climate-information-public-health-action-simon-mason-madeleine-thomson |title=Climate Information for Public Health Action |year=2018 |publisher=Routledge |editor-last=Thomson |editor-first=Madeleine C. |doi=10.4324/9781315115603 |isbn=9781315115603 |editor-last2=Mason |editor-first2=Simon J.}}Du W, FitzGerald GJ, Clark M, Hou XY. Health impacts of floods. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2010 May-Jun;25(3):265-72. doi: 10.1017/s1049023x00008141. PMID 20586021.

In the short and long terms, floods can affect human health both directly and indirectly. Short-term direct impacts mainly include leptospirosis and acute respiratory infections (ARI). Short-term indirect impacts are a result of two main modes of transmission being water-borne: diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, and vector-borne: diseases from intermediate species that carry disease pathogens, such as mosquitoes. Vector-borne diseases brought on by flooding include dengue fever and malaria. In addition, displacement and eventual overcrowding can lead to fungal infections of the lungs and skin.

The long-term health impacts of the Caribbean floods are mainly in the form of mental health problems. The experience of surviving a flood disaster can affect people for years. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), confusion and insomnia are some of the common mental health problems that occur after a flood disaster.

In addition, not only the health of communities that have experienced flooding is at risk. Disaster relief workers, healthcare workers and key service providers may also be affected. As the flooding occurred in 2004, there is a lack of data in this area, so this direction will not be discussed. In the longer term, chronic illness, disability, poor mental health and poverty-related illnesses, including malnutrition, are potential legacies of the floods.{{Cite journal |last1=Du |first1=Weiwei |last2=FitzGerald |first2=Gerard Joseph |last3=Clark |first3=Michele |last4=Hou |first4=Xiang-Yu |date=June 2010 |title=Health Impacts of Floods |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/prehospital-and-disaster-medicine/article/abs/health-impacts-of-floods/11829B2183F14BF6E8563C37D73E8651 |journal=Prehospital and Disaster Medicine |language=en |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=265–272 |doi=10.1017/S1049023X00008141 |pmid=20586021 |s2cid=6702725 |issn=1945-1938|url-access=subscription }}

Vulnerabilities already exist in the Caribbean countries and other small island developing States. Accelerated global warming will only exacerbate them. Small island developing States must be actively involved in adaptation and mitigation measures to address long-term climate change. During this period, targeted investments in high-priority vulnerabilities can lead to no-regret outcomes of high environmental and economic benefits.{{Cite web |title=Small islands are increasingly affected by climate change: IPCC report {{!}} United Nations in the Caribbean |url=https://caribbean.un.org/en/173533-small-islands-are-increasingly-affected-climate-change-ipcc-report,%20https://caribbean.un.org/en/173533-small-islands-are-increasingly-affected-climate-change-ipcc-report |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=caribbean.un.org |language=en}}

Structural and non-structural measures

This is mainly due to the steady increase in population and economic activity in flood-prone areas.{{Cite journal |last1=Jongman |first1=Brenden |last2=Ward |first2=Philip J. |last3=Aerts |first3=Jeroen C.J.H. |date=October 2012 |title=Global exposure to river and coastal flooding: Long term trends and changes |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.07.004 |journal=Global Environmental Change |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=823–835 |doi=10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.07.004 |bibcode=2012GEC....22..823J |issn=0959-3780|url-access=subscription }} The consequences of flooding in the Caribbean are severe because of the exponential increase in urbanization of floodplains, unregulated, human-induced degradation of watersheds, lack of emergency preparedness and resilience, persistent poverty, inefficient public policies and infrastructure problems.{{Cite journal |last1=Sandoval |first1=Vicente |last2=Sarmiento |first2=Juan Pablo |date=2020-06-01 |title=A neglected issue: informal settlements, urban development, and disaster risk reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/dpm-04-2020-0115 |journal=Disaster Prevention and Management |volume=29 |issue=5 |pages=731–745 |doi=10.1108/dpm-04-2020-0115 |bibcode=2020DisPM..29..731S |s2cid=201314726 |issn=0965-3562|url-access=subscription }} The scientific community can work to use advanced methods and techniques to reveal and understand the dynamics and trends of flooding. This will help scientists, politicians and water managers or authorities to develop appropriate policies and measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of flooding. To assess flood risk and prepare mitigation and adaptation measures, structural measures such as policy and economic functions (from low- to high-income countries) need to be compared with non-structural measures and forward-looking consideration of future climatic conditions.{{Citation |last1=Schanze |first1=J |title=Flood risk management strategies in European Member States considering structural and non-structural measures |date=October 2008 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9780203883020.ch88 |work=Flood Risk Management: Research and Practice |pages=787 |publisher=CRC Press |access-date=2022-10-30 |last2=Hutter |first2=G |last3=Penning-Rowsell |first3=E |last4=Parker |first4=D |last5=Nachtnebel |first5=H |last6=Neuhold |first6=C |last7=Meyer |first7=V |last8=Königer |first8=P|doi=10.1201/9780203883020.ch88 |doi-broken-date=2024-11-12 |isbn=978-0-415-48507-4 |url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Thampapillai |first1=Dodo J. |last2=Musgrave |first2=Warren F. |date=April 1985 |title=Flood Damage Mitigation: A Review of Structural and Nonstructural Measures and Alternative Decision Frameworks |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/wr021i004p00411 |journal=Water Resources Research |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=411–424 |doi=10.1029/wr021i004p00411 |bibcode=1985WRR....21..411T |issn=0043-1397|url-access=subscription }} The following measures should be considered: (1) strengthening the use of machine learning methods and new satellite imagery products to improve flood prediction and flood warning systems; (2) identifying the role of vegetation in flood occurrence; and (3) establishing adequate, cost-effective structural and non-structural flood prevention policies and measures.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

• Economy of Haiti
• 1985 Puerto Rico floods

{{Reflist}}

Category:2004 natural disasters

Category:2000s floods in North America

Category:2004 floods

Category:Floods in the Caribbean

Floods

Category:Natural disasters in Haiti

2004

Category:2004 in the Dominican Republic

Category:2004 in Haiti

Category:2004 in Puerto Rico

Category:2004 in the Caribbean

Caribbean floods