JP2.4
The NOAA FEWS-NET hazards assessment for the heavy rainfall event in Haiti on May 23-24, 2004
Kevin B. Laws, NOAA/NWS/NCEP/CPC, Camp Springs, MD; and C. V. Schmitt, T. B. Love, and V. B. Kumar
The NOAA Famine Early Warning Systems Network group at the Climate Prediction Center provides Weekly Weather Hazards Assessments for Africa, Afghanistan, Central America and Haiti in support of humanitarian efforts by the US Agency for International Development. The main goal of these assessments is to provide detailed weather and climate information about drought, floods, freezes or heat waves that may affect food/water supply and distribution that could lead to food insecurities and famine. During the late hours of May 23 and 24, 2004, catastrophe struck as the island of Hispaniola received nearly 36 hours of continuous rainfall leaving many interior regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic helplessly flooded. In this short time period, nearly 10 to 25 inches of rain fell, which was likely the most in recorded modern history for the two nation island. Official reports received, indicated that over 2000 people were killed in Haiti and approximately 700 perished in the Dominican Republic. In addition, many of the April and May main season crops that were planted across the island nations were also destroyed, which indicates that food security will threaten the Haiti region for the upcoming year.
Joint Poster Session 2, Understanding and Predicting the Water Cycle across scales (poster session)
Thursday, 13 January 2005, 9:45 AM-9:45 AM
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