"IS HAITI READY FOR A MAJOR HURRICANE?"

Dear Readers,

In addition to writing DoctorAdvice4u medical columns, people, both internationally and in the United States, have asked that I track global tropical systems.   Since childhood, I have tracked hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, and after Facebook and Twitter were created, requests from people living overseas, asked that I cover tropical systems for their countries.  Thus, whether hurricanes, typhoons, and or tropical cyclones, I voluntarily analyze, blog, and post informational maps to help people stay informed of impending tropical dangers.  Information and 24/7 updates on tropical systems, can be acquired at the DoctorAdvice4u.com website and my Facebook pages (“Roshin Rowjee” & the “Hurricane, Typhoon, and Cyclone Global Alerts Page”).   Please feel free to send a Facebook friend request, and I will gladly accept.  My only motivation is to assist people/friends/neighbors to stay informed and make the best decisions possible to protect life and property.

In addition to medicine and meteorology, another passion I have is politics.  I feel well versed in domestic and international affairs, with a clear vision on how to solve long standing concerns between nations.  Thus, I wish to write a concern related to politics and meteorology (hurricanes).  On January 12, 2010, Haiti endured a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that killed over 220,000 people, left 300,000 people injured, and left over 1 million people homeless.  These 1 million families were forced to live in improvised tents made of tin, cardboard, and or tarp.  Yet, in the midst of this disaster, a total of $13 billion dollars was donated and pledged to assist Haiti’s recovery and rebuilding. 

Since the 2010 earthquake, the Atlantic Ocean basin has endured five continuous seasons of average to below average tropical development.   In fact, over the past five years, Haiti has had the good fortune of not experiencing a major, Category 3 hurricane.  The lower than average hurricane season activity is traced to the Pacific Ocean’s El Nino weather pattern.  However, the 2016 hurricane season may be the start of renewed normal to above average tropical development.  The Pacific Ocean El Nino is being replaced by a La Nina weather pattern, and the resulting transition causes an increase in Atlantic Ocean tropical systems.  Thus, Haiti, along with other Caribbean island nations, should monitor and be prepared for the possibility of increased activity of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes, this season. 

According to the International Organization for Migration, in January 2015, “almost 80,000 Haitians, located in 105 tent cities, live without “a proper roof over their heads.”  In addition, 170 tent cities still exist outside the capital, Port-au-Prince.  Whether the United Nations, the American Red Cross, CARE, and or other charitable entities, all organizations tout substantial gains in infrastructure development and quality of living for native Haitians.  Time will tell if these reports are factually correct.

Let us pray and hope that Haiti’s government established a building code.  Why, you might be wondering?  When, not if, a major hurricane landfalls in Haiti, hopefully, houses, buildings, and other infrastructure, adhered and followed national building code standards, ensuring both life and property safety.  Furthermore, let us hope that Haiti’s Directorate of Civil Protection, developed a national emergency plan (no plan existed prior to the 2010 earthquake) to prepare for impending dangers and respond to present and ongoing disasters.   Finally, since all Haiti has been deforested, let us hope people living on or along the mountain sides have prepared evacuation routes, made evacuation plans, and or located shelters to weather a future, major hurricane.   Hopefully, a plan was devised to channel mountain water out to sea, as well as, an effective plan to prevent any cholera outbreak. These points have been itemized simply due to the fact that without substantial improvement in Haiti’s infrastructure, another disaster is waiting to happen.  The world has had a grace period, of half a decade, to help Haiti rebuild.  Let us hope those people in charge, have fulfilled their promises to the Haitian people.

 Respectfully,  


 Dr. Roshin