Household Vulnerability and Preparedness for Disasters in Haiti
Summary — This paper examines socioeconomic factors correlated with vulnerability to natural hazards in Haiti using High-Frequency Phone Surveys from 2021-2023. The study finds high overall exposure to multiple hazards with disaster preparedness generally low, particularly among the poorest households.
Key Findings
- High overall exposure to hazards with 76% of individuals living in households facing three or more hazards in 2023, up from 69% in 2022.
- Disaster preparedness is generally low, with the poorest households experiencing the most significant challenges in having necessary supplies.
- Households in the bottom two wealth quintiles are less likely to have adequate disaster preparation compared to upper quintiles.
- Education level of household head and internet access are correlated with better disaster preparedness.
- Rural households report higher exposure to multiple hazards than urban households across all survey years.
Full Description
This World Bank Policy Research Working Paper analyzes household vulnerability and disaster preparedness in Haiti using unique data from High-Frequency Phone Surveys conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The research examines socioeconomic factors that correlate with natural hazard vulnerability in a country particularly susceptible to disasters due to its geographical location and preexisting fragilities. The study reveals that Haiti experienced at least 44 natural hazards in the last decade, with the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 220,000 people being the most catastrophic.
The findings indicate exceptionally high exposure to multiple hazards across Haiti's territory, with 76 percent of individuals living in households facing three or more hazards in 2023, compared to 69 percent in 2022. Rural households consistently report higher exposure to multiple hazards than urban households. The most commonly reported threats include cyclones, heat waves, droughts, and extreme rainfall, with around 50 percent or more of respondents living in households threatened by each type of hazard. Notably, the percentage of households reporting earthquake threats increased by nearly 50 percentage points by the end of 2022 compared to 2021.
The research demonstrates significant disparities in vulnerability based on socioeconomic status. Households in the bottom two wealth quintiles are substantially less likely to have necessary supplies for adequate disaster preparation and response compared to upper quintiles. The study identifies education level of household heads and internet access as key factors correlated with better disaster preparedness. These findings highlight the critical importance of addressing socioeconomic inequalities when developing disaster resilience strategies, with policy recommendations focusing on improving preparedness among the most vulnerable households while promoting education and internet access to enhance overall community resilience.