hydrophobic

A little after 9pm last night there was a sudden downpour on my side of Port-au-Prince. It only lasted about 15 minutes but the sound of the rain pounding against the metal roof was deafening. I started praying that it would stop as quickly as it started. Over the last year or so, I've come to fear these sudden heavy rains. Heavy rains wash rocks down the mountainside. Heavy rains cause houses to slide down deforested slopes. Heavy rains make garbage-filled drainage canals overflow. Heavy rains force mothers in the slums to stick their children in plastic garbage bags up to their necks and huddle with them under a table. Last night's 15 minute downpour won't make international news the way the hurricanes do. But last night's 15 minute downpour was more than enough to flood a home and force the occupants to live on the street. Several mothers have come to their study visits saying that flood waters carried away their bottles of manba - along with the rest of their family's possessions. I am bracing myself for more stories in the days to come.

(Update: On March 23 the NYT published this story featuring residents of Gonaives - the site of the terrible flooding during last fall's hurriance season. Their fear of the rains far surpasses any emotions I have about them)