Thursday, November 30, 2023, the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) announced the official end of the 2023 hurricane season, a critical period of high exposure of Haiti to hydrometeorological events.

This year, Haiti was relatively spared significant weather events, until the passage of tropical depression #22 in the central Caribbean, mid-November https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41000-haiti-flash-haiti-under-torrential-rains-on-orange-alert.html . This potential tropical storm caused the death of 5 people in the Deep South, considerable damage in the agricultural sector and some coastal incidents.

The overall outcome of the 2023 season in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico is consistent with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts, with 14 named phenomena (14 predicted), including 6 classified as hurricanes. (planned 7) including 2 force majeure (planned 3).

This period highlighted the importance of continued preparation to deal with natural risks. The effective collaboration between the Hydrometeorological Unit, the General Directorate of Civil Protection and the Permanent Secretariat for Disaster Risk Management (SPGRD) made it possible to maintain monitoring and preparation throughout the season.

At the same time, the SNGRD has carried out significant actions, including the initiation of the establishment of the Haiti Multi-Hazard Early Warning Service (SAPMAH), which will further strengthen the alert and communication capacity in the face of to hydro-climatic events.

It proceeded, with the collaboration of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to the construction of multifunctional shelters in Nippes https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40687-haiti-news-zapping.html and the rehabilitation of evacuation shelters in the South department, as part of the risk management and climate resilience project

On November 30, the DGPC is asking the population to remain attentive to weather phenomena, while reminding that preparation and awareness of major risks remain priorities even beyond the hurricane season.

HL/ HaitiLibre