FEWS NET is a USAID-funded activity whose purpose is to provide objective information about food security conditions. Its views are not necessarily reflective of those of USAID or the U.S. Government. The FEWS NET weather hazards assessment process and products include participation by FEWS NET field and home offices, NOAA-CPC, USGS, USDA, NASA, and a number of other national and regional organizations in the countries concerned.
Questions or comments about this product may be directed to Wassila.Thiaw@noaa.gov or 1-301-763-8000 x7566. Questions about the USAID FEWSNET activity may be directed to Gary Eilerts, USAID Program Manager for FEWSNET, 1-202-219-0500 or geilerts@usaid.gov.
The USAID FEWS NET Weather
Hazards Impacts Assessment for Hispaniola November 11 – November 17, 2010
The passage of Hurricane Tomas led to flooding, damages to infrastructure and crops, fatalities, and exacerbated many Cholera affected areas many local areas in Hispaniola.
The development of Tropical Storm “Tomas” in the southern Caribbean strengthened and geared towards western Hispaniola during the last week. Although the center of the storm had shifted just offshore of the western Haiti coastline, significant amounts of precipitation were received across much of Hispaniola, with the heaviest rainfall amounts in excess of 150 mm observed along the southern tier of Hispaniola during the last seven days. The heavy rains and high winds did spare a large number of local earthquake affected areas near the Port Au Prince region, however there remained a number of local coastal areas that experienced elevated rivers, flooding, damages to infrastructure and crops, and fatalities in the wake of “Tomas” this past weekend. The flooding and overly saturated soils are expected to worsen the spreading of Cholera and other water-borne diseases outbreaks, as thousands of people have already been affected in Haiti since summer. Precipitation forecasts suggest a decrease in rainfall during the next week across Haiti, with light to fair accumulations ranging between 10-25mm.
