6 February, 2010 – As efforts in Haiti start focusing on providing shelter for earthquake survivors, on the re-building and reconstruction process, and on improving scientific understanding of earthquake risks, it is not too soon to focus also on hydro-meteorological hazards. The hurricane season starts in four short months – on June 1, and Haiti’s population remains amongst the most vulnerable in the world to rainfall, flooding and landslide hazards.

11am EST, January 13, 2010 - The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) is preparing to make a payout to the Government of Haiti as a result of the Magnitude 7.0 earthquake which struck close to Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday. Haiti has an earthquake policy with CCRIF as part of the country’s disaster risk management strategy. The recent earthquake was of sufficient magnitude to trigger the full policy limit for the earthquake coverage, effecting payment after a 14-day waiting period.