GEO Haiti 2010

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134 GEO HAITI • 2010 9. Natural Hazards Haiti is located in a subduction zone 58 , where winds from different directions converge, and at the heart of a tropical region, exposing it to serious environmental hazards. Furthermore, the population’s land occupation patterns increase its vulnerability to hazards and risks which, in the past, have turned into catastrophes. Figure 81: Gonaives in the aftermath of the 2008 hurricanes 9.1. Main Natural Hazards in Haiti Geomorphological and hydrometerological natural hazards are becoming the most troubling Figure 82: Natural Hazards in Haiti Source: Derline Mentor environmental dangers. The former are essentially earthquakes, landslides and land collapses 59 . Volcanic activity manifests itself by the existence of hot and sulphur springs. The latter take the form of hurricanes, floods and drought. As far as hurricanes are concerned, Haiti has the highest risk index (12.9) among small island developing-states in the region, including the Dominican Republic (2.79), Jamaica (1.45) and Cuba (0.16). Weather events over the past years have confirmed this extreme vulnerability with more than 20,000 victims, 6 million disaster victims and the destruction of more than 60% of constructions (UNDAF, 2009-2011; CNSA, 2009). For the past 50 years, hurricanes have been the most active among natural geomorphological events, severely affecting the country. Haitians still remember deadly hurricanes such as Hazel in 1954 (410 deaths), Flora in 1963 (5,000 deaths), Gordon in 1994 (1,122 deaths), George in 1998 (242 deaths) and Jeanne in 2004 (3,000 deaths) (Mathieu et al., 2002). Main River Urban Task Departmental boundary Seismic hazard zone Drought Class I II III Floodplain Very High probability Low likelihood Hurricane risk zone Very High probability Low likelihood Source: From a modified map by Mathieu et al, 2002. 58 Subduction is a process that takes place when two tectonic plates converge. Subduction zones are therefore, characterised by powerful earthquakes and spectacular volcanic activity. 59 PRÉPETIT, Claude. s.d. Landslides in Haiti. Roneotyped document.
State of the Environment Report 2010 Before the earthquake on January 12, 2010, there had been little seismic activity in the previous decades, although this had been frequent in the past. In the 18 th century, for example, the city of Port-au-Prince was completely destroyed twice by earthquakes (Corvington, 1975), and Cap- Haïtien was devastated once in the 19 th century, according to Pierre-Louis (1980). All Haitian regions are not affected by the same types of natural disasters or to the same extent. Accordingly, risks are low in some regions and much higher in others (Figure 82). According to Mathieu et al (op. cit.), the western and southern parts of Haiti are prone to hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. The North and Artibonite Provinces are also highly vulnerable to floods and earthquakes. The Northwest Province has an average risk of endemic drought, while the Southeast and Grand’Anse Provinces are at risk of hurricanes and floods. Thanks to a low gradient, the Northeast and Center Provinces seem to be the least susceptible to natural hazard risks (Annex 2). 9.2 Vulnerability to Natural Threats The occurrence of natural hazards in Haiti has become almost unavoidable due to the geographic location and configuration of the country. However, Haitians have had to pay dearly the impacts of such hazards, not so much because of their violence but because of a poor environmental management leading to environmental degradation, and of inadequate practices of land occupation. Intensified by poverty, the country remains fragile in the face of natural disasters. 9.2.1 Environmental Degradation It is a known fact that Haiti’s environment is undergoing a crisis as evidenced by its uncommon deterioration. Aside from the inherent problems that this deterioration brings, it also amplifies the country’s exposure to the threat and severity of natural hazards. Natural hazards, in the form of aggressive and extreme rainfall during the rainy and hurricane seasons, contribute greatly to soil degradation. According to INESA (2008), factors such as the intensity and duration of rainfall, the nature and cationic content of clay minerals in the soil, the topographical conditions (Haiti is 80% mountainous) and land use practices can aggravate soil degradation. These are considered to be some of the human-induced causes of soil degradation. Figure 83: Watershed in Gonaives Source: Hilaire 2005 Actually, even mild disturbances have disastrous consequences in Haiti. Thus, despite their welldeserved reputation of “hurricane breakers” because of their ability to reduce wind speeds, Haiti’s numerous mountain ranges have not been able to protect the country, these last years, from the destruction of low-intensity hurricanes. Hurricane Gordon (1994) for example, which the Haitian people remember all too well, did not strike the country with full force. It is reasonable to assert that these are far from natural disasters, but are largely human-caused. 9.2.2 Land Use The haphazard use of land space in Haiti, much like environmental degradation, can increase the impact of natural disasters on the country. The slightest landslide or rainfalls, even outside the rainy or hurricane seasons, bring the country on the verge of catastrophe. 135
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GEO Haiti 2010

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