BSR Insight | A Tale of Two Storms: U.S. and Haiti
About the Author(s)
Julia Robinson, Communications Associate
Publication Date
November 6, 2012
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As communities across North America regroup following "superstorm" Sandy, two narratives have emerged—of how the developed and developing worlds face loss, recovery, and questions about infrastructure and resources.
The story in the United States
At least 110 people have died, more than 8 million lost power, and the storm may cost up to US$50 billion. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pointed out that flooding, exacerbated by global warming, will require new approaches to urban planning.
"We have 100-year floods every two years now. We have a new reality when it comes to these weather patterns and we have an old infrastructure, and that is not a good combination."
—Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, United States, November 1, 2012
The story in Haiti
Haiti suffered at least 54 deaths, may experience a surge in its cholera epidemic (which has killed 7,500 since 2010), and lost 70 percent of the crops in its Southern Department. Haiti is still reeling from previous hurricanes and the 2010 earthquake, and food insecurity, already exacerbated by a lack of rainfall in previous months, is a major concern.
"The storm took everything away. Everything the peasants had in reserve—corn, tubers—all of it was devastated. Some people had already prepared their fields for winter crops, and those were devastated."
—Jean Debalio Jean-Jacques, director of the Southern Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Haiti, October 29, 2012
About the Author(s)
Julia Robinson, Communications Associate
Julia provides editorial, media, marketing, and digital support to BSR staff and projects... Read more →
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