Natural Hazards in the Caribbean

Earthquakes
Earthquakes are caused by sudden release of slowly accumulated strain energy along a fault in the
earths crust. Earthquakes and volcanoes occur most commonly at the collision zone between
tectonic plates. Earthquakes represent a particularly severe threat due to the irregular time
intervals between events, lack of adequate forecasting, and the hazards associated with these:
-

Ground shaking is a direct hazard to any structure located near the earthquakes center. Structural
failure takes many human lives in densely populated areas.

Faulting, or breaches of the surface material, occurs as the separation of bedrock along lines of
weakness.

Landslides occur because of ground shaking in areas having relatively steep topography and poor
slope stability.

Liquefaction of gently sloping unconsolidated material can be triggered by ground shaking. Flows
and lateral spreads (liquefaction phenomena) are among the most destructive geologic hazards.

Subsidence or surface depressions result from the settling of loose or unconsolidated sediment.
Subsidence occurs in waterlogged soils, fill, alluvium, and other materials that are prone to settle.

Tsunamis or seismic sea waves, usually generated by seismic activity under the ocean floor, cause
flooding in coastal areas and can affect areas thousands of kilometers from the earthquake center.

Volcanoes
Volcanoes are perforations in the earths crust through which molten rock and gases escape to the
surface. Volcanic hazards stem from two classes of eruptions:
-

Explosive eruptions which originate in the rapid dissolution and expansion of gas from the molten
rock as it nears the earths surface. Explosions pose a risk by scattering rock blocks, fragments,
and lava at varying distances from the source.

Effusive eruptions where material flow rather than explosions is the major hazard. Flows vary in
nature (mud, ash, lava) and quantity and may originate from multiple sources. Flows are governed
by gravity, surrounding topography, and material viscosity.

Hazards associated with volcanic eruptions include lava flows, falling ash and projectiles,
mudflows, and toxic gases. Volcanic activity may also trigger other natural hazardous events
including local tsunamis, deformation of the landscape, floods when lakes are breached or when
streams and rivers are dammed, and tremor-provoked landslides.

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazards in the Caribbean

Landslides
The term landslide includes slides, falls, and flows of unconsolidated materials. Landslides can be
triggered by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, soil saturated by heavy rains or groundwater rise,
and river undercutting. Earthquake shaking of saturated soils creates particularly dangerous
conditions. Although landslides are highly localized, they can be particularly hazardous due to
their frequency of occurrence. Classes of landslide include:
-

Rockfalls, which are characterized by free falling rocks from overlying cliffs. These often collect
at the cliff base in the form of talus slopes which may pose an additional risk.

Slides and avalanches, a displacement of overburden due to shear failure along a structural feature.
If the displacement occurs in surface material without total deformation it is called a slump.

Flows and lateral spreads, which occur in recent unconsolidated material associated with a shallow
water table. Although associated with gentle topography, these liquefaction phenomena can travel
significant distances from their origin.

The impact of these events depends on the specific nature of the landslide. Rockfalls are obvious
dangers to life and property but, in general, they pose only a localized threat due to their limited
areal influence. In contrast, slides, avalanches, flows, and lateral spreads, often having great areal
extent, can result in massive loss of lives and property. Mudflows, associated with volcanic
eruptions, can travel at great speed from their point of origin and are one of the most destructive
volcanic hazards.

Flooding
Two types of flooding can be distinguished: (1) land-borne floods, or river flooding caused by
excessive run-off brought on by heavy rains, and (2) sea-borne floods, or coastal flooding, caused
by storm surges, often exacerbated by storm run-off from the upper watershed. Tsunamis are a
special type of sea-borne flood.
Coastal flooding
Storm surges are an abnormal rise in sea water level associated with hurricanes and other storms
at sea. Surges result from strong on-shore winds and/or intense low pressure cells and ocean
storms. Water level is controlled by wind, atmospheric pressure, existing astronomical tide,
waves and swell, local coastal topography and bathymetry, and the storms proximity to the coast.
Most often, destruction by storm surge is attributable to:
-

wave impact and the physical shock on objects associated with the passing of the wave front.

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazrds in the Caribbean

Hydrostatic/dynamic forces and the effects of water lifting and carrying objects. The most
significant damage often results from the direct impact of waves on fixed structures. Indirect
impacts include flooding and undermining of major infrastructure such as highways and railroads.

Flooding of deltas and other low-lying coastal areas is exacerbated by the influence of tidal action,
storm waves, and frequent channel shifts.
River flooding
Land-borne floods occur when the capacity of stream channels to conduct water is exceeded and
water overflows banks. Floods are natural phenomena, and may be expected to occur at irregular
intervals on all stream and rivers. Settlement of floodplain areas is a major cause of floodplain
areas is a major cause of flood damage.
Tsunamis
Tsunamis are long-period waves generated by disturbances such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and
undersea landslides. The crests of these waves can exceed heights of 25 meters on reaching shallow water.
The unique characteristics of tsunamis (wave lengths commonly exceeding 100 km, deep-ocean velocities of
up to 700 km/hour, and small crest heights in deep water) make their detection and monitoring difficult.
Characteristics of coastal flooding caused by tsunamis are the same as those of storm surges.

Hurricanes
Hurricanes are tropical depressions which develop into severe storms characterized by winds
directed inward in a spiraling pattern toward the center. They are generated over warm ocean
water at low latitudes and are particularly dangerous due to their destructive potential, large zone
of influence, spontaneous generation, and erratic movement. Phenomena which are associated
with hurricanes are:
-

Winds exceeding 64 knots (74 mi/hr or 119 km/hr), the definition of hurricane force. Damage
results from the winds direct impact on fixed structures and from wind-borne objects.

Heavy rainfall which commonly precedes and follows hurricanes for up to several days. The
quantity of rainfall is dependent on the amount of moisture in the air, the speed of the hurricanes
movement, and its size. On land, heavy rainfall can saturate soils and cause flooding because of
excess runoff (land-borne flooding); it can cause landslides because of added weight and
lubrication of surface material; and/or it can damage crops by weakening support for the roots.

Storm surge (explained above), which, especially when combined with high tides, can easily flood
low-lying areas that are not protected.

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazards in the Caribbean

Annual Average Number of People

Killed

Affected

Haiti

168

219,861

Dominican Republic

84

102,566

Puerto Rico

47

160

Guyana

36

10,859

Cuba

33

65,335

Jamaica

19

54,187

Suriname

N.A.

Bahamas

N.A.

Dominica

3,600

St. Lucia

2,944

Martinique

1,060

Anguilla

N.A.

Belize

3,731

Bermuda

N.A.

Trinidad & Tobago

2,000

Barbados

Antigua & Barbuda

3,000

Country

Source: World Disasters Report 1996

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazrds in the Caribbean

Country

Date

Hazards

Comment

Anguilla

02/01/55
05/09/60

Hurricane
Hurricane

Alice
Donna

Antigua & Barbuda

01/09/50
04/09/60
26/09/66
08/10/74
11/83
16/03/85
17/09/89

Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Earthquake
Drought
Earthquake
Hurricane

Dog
Donna
Inez
Major
Extensive damage to agric sector
6.6 Richter Scale
Hugo

Bahamas

26/07/26
26/09/29
29/09/35
14/09/45
18/10/63
09/65
03/10/66
08/92

Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane

Devastating
Enormous damage
In Bimini
Heavy damage
Flora
Betsy
Inez
Andrew 4 killed

Barbados

22/09/55
10/70
03/08/80
10/83
25/10/84
10/09/31
28/09/55
31/09/61
09/74

Hurricane
Floods
Hurricane
Flood
Floods
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricanes
Hurricane

Janet
Entire Island
Allen
Speightstown
Widespread
1,500 killed
Janet
Hattie
Carmen & Fifi

Belize

09/78
12/79
17/05/82

Floods
Fire

Greta - 5 deaths, 6,000 affected

Bermuda

12/10/48
01/86
25/09/87

Hurricane
Tornadoes
Hurricane

Heavy damage
5 parishes
Emily

British Virgin Islands

1932
23/05/69
07/09/70
04/83
11/84

Hurricane
Flood
Flood
Flood & rains
Tropical Storm

Tortola damaged
19" rain recorded
Heavy damage

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazards in the Caribbean

Heavy damage

Major Disasters in the Caribbean: 1899 1989

Country

Date

Hazards

Comment

Cuba

20/10/26
09/11/32
28/09/35
18/10/44
21/09/48

Hurricane
Hurricane
Storm Surge
Storm
Hurricane

600 killed
2,500 killed
Many fatalities
-Heavy Damage

05/10/48
04/10/63
06/06/66
30/09/66
13/10/68
19/02/76
06/77
11/02/78
03/06/82
Feb/Mar/83
25/05/85
18/11/85
06/86
08/87
26/05/88
28/05/90
06/02/92
25/05/92

Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Earthquake
Floods
Storm
Hurricane
Rains/floods
Heavy rains
Hurricane
Floods
Fire
Flood
Flood
Flood
Earthquake

-Alma
Flora
Inez
Gladys
-Eastern area
Gale
Alberto
10 weeks of Torrential rains
+ tornadoes
Kate
+ landslides
-20 killed, 90,000 affected
6,000 affected
9,127 affected
7 Richter Scale,000 affected

Dominica

04/03/03
16/02/08
04/02/35
21/05/46
25/09/63
08/79
09/10/84
09/03/86
9/89

Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Hurricane
Hurricanes
Hurricane
Earthquake
Hurricane

-Slight damage
-7.0 Richter scale
Edith
David & Frederick
--Hugo

Dominican Republic

03/09/30
02/10/63
08/64
04/65
29/09/66
1968
27/04/79
08/79
May 81
12/02/83
29/05/86
02/09/87
08/88

Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Forest Fire
Hurricane
Drought
Floods
Hurricanes
Floods
Forest fire
-Hurricane
Flood

2,000 killed
Flora
Cleo
-Inez
Nationwide
N/N-E areas
David & Frederick
Heavy rains
--Emily
1,191,150 affected

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazrds in the Caribbean

Country

Date

Hazards

Comment

Grenada

1955
03/09/63
27/04/90

Hurricane
Hurricane
Fire

Janet
Flora
--

Guadeloupe

12/09/28
11/08/56
06/10/63
22/08/64
27/09/66
20/08/70
30/08/76
16/03/85

Hurricane
Hurricane
Tropical Storm
Hurricane
Hurricane
Tropical Storm
Volcano Eruption
Earthquake

Betsy
Helena
Cleo
Inez
Dorothy
Mt. Soufriere
6.6 Richter scale

Guyana

07/71
18/11/78

Floods
Accident

21,000 affected
900 killed, Jonestown Massacre

Haiti

12/11/09
12/08/15
21/10/35
27/10/52
12/10/54
03/10/63
14/11/63
24/08/64
29/09/64
1968
07/08/72
1974-75
1977
31/08/79
11/05/80
05/08/80
1980-81
20/05/85
16/05/86
01/06/86
03/06/86
Apr-Oct 86
23/10/86
10/07/87
12/87
11/09/88

Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricanes
Earthquake
Hurricane
Hurricane
Floods
Hurricane
Hurricane
Drought
Fire
Drought
Drought
Hurricane
Fire
Hurricane
Drought
Floods
Fire
Floods
Floods
Fire/floods
Floods
Heavy rains
Flood
Hurricane

150 killed
1,600 killed
Jeremie & Jacme
6 killed
Hazel
Flora
500 killed
Cleo
Inez
210,000 affected
Port-au-Prince
N/W Peninsula
countrywide
David
10,000 affected
Allen
S/W area
40,000 affected
3,300 homeless
Extensive Damage
Heavy rains
+ Emergency
100 homeless
Extensive damage
3,000 affected
Gilbert: 54 dead, 870000 affected

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazards in the Caribbean

Major Disasters in the Caribbean: 1899 1989

Country

Date

Hazards

Comment

Jamaica

10/08/03
14/01/07
04/11/09
12/11/12
23/11/37
18/11/40
20/08/44
17/08/51
03/10/63
1968
17/10/73
25/04/79
06/79
05/08/80
11/11/85
15/05/86
30/10/87
12/09/88
21/05/91

Hurricane
Earthquake
Flood
Hurricane
Flood
Flood
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Drought
Tropical storm
Floods
Floods
Hurricane
Hurricane
Floods
Floods
Hurricane
Flood

Heavy damage
1,200 killed
53 killed
Heavy damage
111 killed
125 killed
26 dead
Charlie
Flora
Nationwide
Gilda
Western area
Widespread
Allen
Kate
Islandwide
Tropical Storm
Gilbert (49 killed, 810,000 affected)
550,000 affected

Martinique

08/05/02
08/08/03
16/02/06
17/04/14
26/09/9
02/09/51
19/03/53
10/07/60
25/09/63
07/09/67
20/08/70
08/79
04/10/90

Volcano eruption
Hurricane
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Hurricane
Earthquake
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Tropical storm
Hurricane
Hurricane

Mt. Pelee 40,000 killed

Montserrat

28/08/24
12/09/28

Hurricane
Hurricane

Heavy damage
Heavy damage

Martinique

12/12/34
10/11/35
16/03/85
17/09/89

Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Hurricane

Building damage
Building damage
6.6 Richter scale
Hugo

Netherland Antilles

Aug 1899
01/09/50
04/09/80

Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane

Heavy damage
Dog
Donna

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazrds in the Caribbean

Country

Date

Hazards

Comment

Puerto Rico

Aug 1899
06/09/10
11/10/18
24/10/18
23/07/26
13/09/28
10/09.31
08/32
12/08/56
08/60
1989

Hurricane
Hurricane
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Hurricane
Hurricane

6,000 killed
San Juan damaged
Extensive damage
Deaths/damages
Deaths/damages
Deaths/damages
Deaths/damages
Deaths/damages
Deaths/damages
Donna
Hugo

St. Kitts (Saint

13/09/28
12/50
02/10/55
1984
16/03/85
05/87
17/09/89

Hurricane
Earthquake
Hurricane
Floods
Earthquake
Flood
Hurricane

Heavy damage
Heavy damage
Alice
In Basseterre
6.6 Richter scale
-Hugo

St. Martaen/Saba

30/12/54
04/09/60

Hurricane
Hurricane

Alice
Donna

St. Lucia

16/02/06
21/05/46
19/03/53
10/07/60
25/09/63
07/09/67
03/08/80
08/83
08/09/86

Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Hurricane
Hurricane
Tropical Storm
Hurricane
Storm
Tropical Storm

Extensive damage
Building damage
Building damage
Abby
Edith
Beulah
Allen
Gale force winds
Danielle

Saint Vincent and the

08/05/02
17/07/02
17/09/06
26/09/28
21/05/46
19/03/53
23/09/55
08/09/67
17/10/71
13/04/79
03/08/80
08/09/86
21/09/87

Volcanic Eruption
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Hurricane
Tropical Storm
Volcanic Eruption
Volcanic Eruption
Hurricane
Trop Storm/Flood
Hurricane

Mt. Soufriere (1,565 killed)

Surriname

01/08/69

Floods

4,600 affected

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazards in the Caribbean

Major Disasters in the Caribbean: 1899 1989

Date

Hazards

Comment

Trinidad & Tobago

31/01/04
26/03/15
24/02/18
04/12/54
27/06/33
30/09/63
14/08/74

Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Hurricane
Hurricane
Tropical Storm

Building damage
Building damage
Building damage
Building damage
Heavy damage
Flora
Alma

Turks and Caicos Islands

20/11/85
21/09/87

Hurricane
Hurricane

Kate
Emily

US Virgin Islands

Aug 1899
Aug 1899
01/10/01
22/08/09
14/07/16
21/08/16
09/10/16
28/08/24
12/09/28
10/09/31
26/09/32
07/05/60
01/03/69
05/70
10/70
1989

Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Tropical Storm
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Flood
Flood
Flood
Flood
Hurricane

Heavy damage and major flood surge

Source:

Disaster Information Kit for the Media (ver 05/95) Data based on records available from:

1.

OFDA Disaster History: Significant Data On Major Disasters Worldwide, 1900 - present of June 87

2.

PCDPPPS Caribbean Disaster News, issues Nod. 1-11 (1984-present)

3.

PCDPPP Documentation Centre, 1988

4.

UNDROs computerized list of situation/information reports (sitrep.Prints)

5.

World Map of Natural Hazards, Muenchener Rueckversicherungs Gesellschaft, 1978

10

Hazard Mitigation Planning: Natural Hazrds in the Caribbean