Haiti: Flash foods across the country May 2

Event

Operations at Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) in Tabarre (Port-au-Prince) have returned to normal as of Wednesday, May 3, after flooding at the airport's departure and arrival terminals, as well as on the runway, caused disruptions on Tuesday. According to Nadia Lochard, coordinator of Civil Protection for the West department, the flooding stemmed from the nearby Clercine area, which had been inundated since Sunday, April 30.

The streets of Port-au-Prince were also partially flooded, and related transportation disruptions are to be expected (road closures, hazardous conditions, etc.). More rain is forecast in the capital on Wednesday, May 3.

According to a recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Haiti, severe rainfall over the past ten days struck the Sud, Sud-Est, Grand'Anse, and Nippes departments causing the deaths of at least four people, while destroying 15 houses and damaging 10,000 others due to mudslides, landslides, and flooding. The beleaguered Sud department is the most affected region with 80 percent of the spring harvest reportedly wiped out. Additionally, an estimated 350,000 people are affected.

Context

Haiti's rainy seasons generally last from April to June and from August to October, while the hurricane season lasts from June to November. Flooding and landslides are common during these periods, especially when much of Haiti's waterbed is saturated from recent rainfall (as it currently is).

Be aware that the risk of contracting water- and mosquito-borne diseases - including malaria, chikungunya, dengue fever, and the Zika virus - tends to rise after periods of heavy rains.

Advice

Individuals present in affected regions are advised to keep abreast of the situation, to avoid areas directly hit by flooding, and to adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs disposed of.