Over the past week, our hearts and prayers have been with our partners and participants in the Caribbean as Hurricane Melissa brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong winds to the region. Many of our supporters have reached out with concern for our teams and the families we serve in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and we’re deeply grateful for the care and solidarity.
We’re relieved to share that all Plant With Purpose partners in both countries are safe from direct harm. While both nations have experienced significant rain and localized flooding, the communities where we work have not reported any major loss of life or widespread devastation. Still, many roads remain damaged, rivers have overflowed, and some crops have been affected, especially in areas already vulnerable from previous weather events.
Haiti: Continued Monitoring and Support
In Haiti, our teams have faced days of heavy rain and strong winds, particularly in the southwest. According to our Country Director, “Tthe team is all safe, despite heavy rain and wind in the southwest.” However, flooding has affected streets and farmland in places after more than a week of rainfall.
Another team member shared that “A red warning was declared for seven of the ten departments [states] .” While the hurricane did not make direct landfall in Haiti, its effects were still devastating in western areas of Haiti. Our Director noted that this region was already at high risk due to road damage and poor drainage before the storm.
Despite these challenges, our team has been reaching out to communities to assess damage and offer support. Offices were closed during the storm, but local staff members are now checking on participants, especially in vulnerable mountain areas. As of the latest government update, all warnings related to Hurricane Melissa have been lifted, though we remain vigilant as rain continues in some parts of the country.
Dominican Republic: Heavy Rains and Damaged Roads
Across the border in the Dominican Republic, our team also reported intense rainfall, overflowing rivers, and damaged rural roads. Eugenio, one of our leaders, shared, “Thank God everything is fine. Lots of rain, rivers overflowing. But nothing unfortunate has happened.”
In Ozama and Rancho Arriba, some access roads have been washed out, slowing the work of our facilitators who travel between remote communities. While the rains have saturated the soil, creating a risk of landslides, the immediate impact on crops has been relatively small. Farmers in the upper ranch area are currently in their coffee harvest season, and some worry that overly ripe beans could spoil before they’re picked.
Fortunately, as of today, the rains have begun to lessen, and our teams believe conditions will continue to improve in the coming days. No direct damage has been reported by our partners, but road repairs and transportation challenges will take time.
Standing Firm Through the Storms
Plant With Purpose is not a direct/immediate disaster relief organization. Our focus has always been on long-term restoration and resilience. We are committed to helping rural families and communities thrive in the face of challenges like these. Still, when extreme weather strikes, the value of this long-term work becomes even more evident.
Every farmer who has planted trees, strengthened soil, or built savings through a Purpose Group is more prepared to withstand and recover from shocks like Hurricane Melissa. Trees and reforestation play a powerful role in reducing runoff and erosion, preventing soil from washing away when heavy rains fall. In communities where our programs are active, you’ll see hillside farms fortified by living roots and rock barriers—natural defenses against landslides and flooding.
Economic resilience also matters in moments like these. Through Purpose Groups, families build financial stability by saving together and gaining access to small, community-managed loans. In fact, in Haiti, Plant With Purpose families are 8.2 times more likely to be saving cash compared to their neighbors outside the program. This means that when crops are damaged or markets close temporarily, they have a cushion to rely on.
In a region where drought and flooding can happen in the same year, this stability is life-changing. The Caribbean faces increasing climate irregularities. This can bring long dry spells followed by sudden, destructive rainfall. These climate impacts hit smallholder farmers the hardest. By restoring forests and improving soil health, our partners also play a crucial role in mitigating climate change itself. In Haiti, participating families plant an average of 81 trees per year, compared to just three trees among non-participants. Those trees create stronger farms today and a more stable climate tomorrow.
Gratitude and Compassion
While we are profoundly thankful that our teams and participants are safe, our hearts are heavy for those in the Caribbean who have suffered devastating losses. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families mourning loved ones and to communities still cleaning up after the floods.
We ask that you continue to pray with us. Please pray for recovery in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, for safety as our teams travel damaged roads, and for resilience as farmers return to their fields. When we invest in people and ecosystems together, we help communities stand firm through the storms, both literal and figurative.
To our supporters: thank you. Your partnership makes this work possible. Work that prepares families not only to survive disaster but to build a flourishing future beyond it.If you would like to help strengthen communities facing the realities of a changing climate, consider supporting Plant With Purpose’s ongoing work in the Caribbean and beyond. Together, we can continue restoring hope and building resilience.
