Haiti on the Brink: A Catastrophic Hurricane Season — and the People Are Already Drowning
The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team | June 5, 2925
As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins, the warnings are clear and chilling. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared that “everything is in place for an above-average season,” fueled by warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures that power stronger, longer-lasting storms. Scientists predict up to five major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) barreling through the Caribbean — any one of which could devastate Haiti beyond measure.
But for over a million Haitians, the real storm started long ago — a storm of violence, displacement, and abandonment that has already pushed them to the edge of survival.
The Perfect Storm of Disaster: Climate, Crime, and Collapse
More than one million Haitians have been forced from their homes by escalating gang violence and insecurity. Nearly 200,000 live in makeshift displacement camps — many built on flood-prone land with no proper shelter, drainage, or sanitation. These conditions, as the United Nations warns, leave families dangerously exposed to storms that are fast approaching.
Last April, a camp on the grounds of the Ministry of Public Works was flooded, forcing families to stand through knee-deep waters, desperately digging trenches and hauling concrete blocks just to stave off drowning. This is not an isolated tragedy. It’s a glimpse into the future of Haiti if a major hurricane hits — a future where thousands could drown or perish in disease and starvation.
Leadership’s Deadly Silence
Where is the government in this unfolding nightmare?
Haiti’s transitional authorities, mired in political infighting and corruption, have failed to issue clear emergency plans, pre-position supplies, or build evacuation routes. The voices of those in power are conspicuously absent while mothers and children sleep under tarps, exposed to the merciless elements.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is working with local and international partners to prepare, but their efforts are severely hampered by underfunding and restricted humanitarian access — especially in areas controlled by gangs.
This is not just a natural disaster waiting to happen. It’s a man-made catastrophe, created by neglect, corruption, and the abdication of responsibility at the highest levels.
The Catastrophe We Cannot Ignore
The science is stark:
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NOAA forecasts a 70% chance of an above-normal hurricane season this year.
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Experts predict 14 to 21 named storms, with 6 to 10 hurricanes, and 3 to 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or above) — numbers well above the 30-year seasonal average.
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According to meteorologist Kristen Corbosiero, storms are now powering up 30% faster than they did just decades ago, giving less time for warning and preparation.
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The Atlantic Ocean’s surface temperature is currently 1 to 2 degrees Celsius warmer than average, fueling hurricanes with unprecedented energy and longevity.
Haiti, already crippled by political instability and displacement, is alarmingly vulnerable to a storm season unlike anything it has faced before.
If a Category 3 or 4 hurricane strikes this year, it could unleash:
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Massive flooding that sweeps away displacement camps and entire communities.
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A surge of deadly diseases — cholera, dysentery, malaria — spreading through contaminated floodwaters.
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Famine as crops are destroyed, supply routes cut off, and aid disrupted.
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Escalating violence as gangs exploit chaos to tighten their grip on desperate populations.
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Complete collapse of fragile infrastructure — hospitals, schools, and emergency services.
The ripple effects could destabilize Haiti for decades, undoing any fragile progress made since the 2010 earthquake.
This Is a Call to Action
To the Haitian government: Your failure to act is condemning your people to death. The world is watching — and history will judge this moment as one of catastrophic negligence if you do not mobilize now.
To the international community: Haiti needs urgent, sustained support, unrestricted humanitarian access, and immediate funding for disaster preparedness.
To the Haitian diaspora and global allies: Now is the time to raise your voices, demand accountability, and support grassroots efforts on the ground. The people of Haiti cannot afford silence or inaction.
We Stand at the Edge of the Abyss
Haiti is not just facing a hurricane season. It is facing a convergence of climate disaster and human failure — a storm of epic proportions that will drown more than land; it will drown hope, stability, and life itself.
If the winds come and the government remains silent, the death toll will be more than just statistics — it will be a national tragedy written by hands that refused to protect their own.
What do you think needs to be done right now to save Haiti from this looming disaster?
Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. Your voice matters — together, we can raise awareness and demand action before it’s too late.
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