Effects of Hurricane Georges in Haiti

Track of Hurricane Georges

Hurricane Georges began as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa during mid-September 1998. Tracking westward, the wave spawned an area of low pressure two days later, which quickly strengthened into a tropical depression. On September 16, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georges, and to Hurricane Georges the next day. The storm reached its peak intensity on September 20 with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h), just below Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.[1]

Over the following five days, the hurricane tracked through the Greater Antilles, causing over 600 fatalities, mainly in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. By September 25, Georges entered the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm made landfall three days later near Biloxi, Mississippi with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). Upon landfall, the hurricane's forward motion slowed to an eastward drift. Georges continued to diminish until it completely died down on October 1 near the Atlantic coast of Florida.[1]

Georges was already a weakened hurricane upon reaching Haiti, but cities and other areas of low elevation were still in danger of high winds, mudslides, and flooding. Haiti's capital received minimal damage.[2] The rest of the country, however, experienced a significant number of flash floods due to deforestation along the mountains.[3] Mudslides destroyed or severely damaged many houses, leaving 167,332 homeless.[1] Floods left the greatest impact along the northern coastline.[3] On the southern coast, the head of a U.S.-based medical team, stranded for several days by flooding in the remote town of Belle Anse, anticipated a rise in malnutrition, disease, homelessness and poverty.[4] Hurricane Georges caused citizens to have no access to clean water, which added to the already unsanitary conditions from dirty flood water and rampant diseases.[5] In all, there were at least 400 fatalities.[6]  

Like in the Dominican Republic, the agricultural sector suffered extreme damage. After a severe drought in 1997, Georges's severe flooding stopped any chances of recovering quickly. Most of the country's significant crop land, including Artibonite Valley, suffered total losses. Up to 80% of banana plantations were lost, while vegetable, roots, tubers, and other food crops were destroyed. In addition, thousands of livestock were missing.[7] Total agricultural losses amounted to $179 million (1998 USD, $281 million 2019 USD).[8]

The country requested food assistance in the aftermath of the hurricane to alleviate the serious losses.[7] Organizations such as the BHR/OFDA offered monetary assistance and provided limited amounts of resources such as blankets, water, and plastic sheeting.[9] CWS sent some of its members to Haiti to scope the extent of aid needed and provided kits containing cleaning supplies and toiletries.[10] CWS and FEMA partnered together to gather volunteers and oversee rebuilding efforts.[11] Cuba provided medical assistance and gave additional training to Haitian doctors through an agreement made with Haiti.[12]

• Hurricane Georges
• Effects of Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic
• 1998 Atlantic hurricane season

• NHC Georges Report