GEO Haiti 2010

State of the Environment Report 2010
2004. During that period, the country recorded
the 50 greatest disasters of its history, suffering
17 hurricanes, 26 major floods and 7 droughts.
The Southern Region is the most vulnerable to
hurricanes, with a frequency of 59% for the South
Province, 44% for Grand’Anse and 37% for the
Southeast Province. At 30%, the West Province’s
hurricane frequency is almost half that of the
Southern Province (USAID, 2007 in CCI 2004).
137
Figure 84: Hurricane Frequency by Province in Haiti (1954-2001)
70%
60%
Frequency (%)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
South
North
Northeast
Northwest
Grande-Anse
Center
Department
Southeast
West
Artibonite
Source: USAID, 2007
Contrary to its history of hurricanes, the West
Province’s history of floods over a 40-year period
shows that it is the most vulnerable to this hazard,
experiencing 36% of all floods occurring from
1968 to 1997. Other provinces were also affected,
namely Artibonite, South, Northwest and North
with a frequency of about 10% (Figure 85).
Figure 85: Flood Frequency by Province (1968 - 1997)
40%
35%
30%
Frequency (%)
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
South
North
Northeast
Northwest
Grande-Anse
Center
Department
Southeast
West
Artibonite
Source: USAID, 2007
These floods have caused important losses, in
human lives as well as material. The following
table gives a balance sheet of these floods with a
summary of damages suffered.