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May 2004 Caribbean floods
.jpg) Satellite image of convection affecting Hispaniola | |
| Date | May 18 – 25, 2004 |
|---|---|
| Location | Greater Antilles, mostly Hispaniola |
| Deaths | About 2,000 |
The May 2004 Caribbean floods were a flood event that affected the Caribbean Islands and Hispaniola from May 18, 2004, to May 25, 2004.[1][2] Moving quickly from Central America, a low-pressure area brought heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic resulting in rainfall amounts exceeding 500 mm (19.7 inches) within a 7-day period.[3][1] Cities in flood-plain areas like Mapou, Haiti, and Jimani, of the Dominican Republic, experienced over 250 mm (10 inches) of rain between May 24 and 25, causing the Solie River to overflow, resulting in devastating environmental and infrastructure damage.[1][4] With hundreds dead and thousands more displaced in Mapou and Jimani, the death toll was at its highest in decades, partly because of deforestation.[3] Steep valley ridges and barren hillsides channeled rainwater towards valleys, creating landslides that overwhelmed and flooded cities particularly in high-poverty areas where buildings were wooden or makeshift temporary homes.[4][5] In addition, inhabitants residing on these flood plains were subject to increased risk from water-borne diseases due to inadequate waste removal management and contaminated water supply due to excessive debris caused by flooding.[6]
These floods were preceded by two weeks of persistent rain in the Caribbean area, which eventually caused the landslides that killed many people.[7] The floods caused much damage in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with over 1,300 homes being destroyed and about 2,000 people being killed.[8] Due to this destruction, nearly 15,000 people were displaced with nowhere to live.[9] The area that felt the worst of the flooding was the town of Jimaní, near the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.[10] In fact, the destruction present at Jimaní was so bad that Dominican president Hipolito Mejia declared a national day of mourning after seeing the effects of the storm.[9]
- ^ a b c "Flood Disaster Hits Hispaniola". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2004-06-11. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
- ^ "2004 Flood Archive". Dartmouth College. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ a b "Haiti/Dominican Republic Floods 25 May 2004 - Haiti | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 25 May 2004. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
- ^ a b "Island flood toll soars to 2,000". The Guardian. 2004-05-27. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
- ^ López-Marrero, Tania; Wisner, Ben (2012). "Not in the Same Boat: Disasters and Differential Vulnerability in the Insular Caribbean". Caribbean Studies. 40 (2): 129–168. ISSN 0008-6533. JSTOR 41917606.
- ^ "Climate Knowledge Portal". World Bank. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ "Hundreds dead in Caribbean floods". BBC News. May 26, 2004. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ "Global Hazards and Significant Events: May 2004". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ a b "At least 900 dead in Caribbean flooding". CNN. May 28, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ "Severe Floods Sweep Across Haiti and the Dominican Republic". Earth Observatory. NASA. 27 May 2004.
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