Our Haiti team is prepared in advance for another active Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1 to November 30) predicted by the National Weather Service. Haiti is especially prone to storm-related flooding due to ramshackle housing, hillside terrain, along with the fact that 350,000 people still live in emergency shelters after the 2010 earthquake.  

The team has prepositioned cholera supplies, family preparedness kits and other aid to help people in the most vulnerable areas. Each kit has enough emergency household and personal hygiene supplies to help a family of five for approximately one month. Two weeks before the onset of hurricane season, our team distributed some of these kits to partners in the Port-au-Prince area, and will keep a supply at the ready in our warehouse along with plans for immediate distribution within high risk areas.

The family preparedness kits include water treatment tablets, oral rehydration salts, bleach for disinfecting, water, a water container, bandages, a bowl, droppers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, laundry soap, a plastic bag for packing, and a Ziplock bag for keeping documents dry. These simple items help prevent water-borne illness and bring comfort to families in a time of crisis.

“Cholera is always a threat when floodwaters rise and access to sanitation and clean water decreases,” explained Julie Hard, AmeriCares Haiti Country Director. “That’s why advance preparation is so crucial.”

On October 24, 2012, Hurricane Sandy battered Haiti before striking a devastating blow to the Northeastern U.S. Our Haiti team was ready throughout the crisis, shipping emergency medicines and supplies to partners in advance of the storm, distributing family emergency kits, cholera supplies and issuing grants and other aid in the aftermath to help stricken communities.

Learn more about our work in Haiti here.