SOIL Haiti 6 February 2025

Strength in Community - SOIL's Flood Recovery Update

Sakapfet Okap / SOIL collects EkoLakay containers in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Cap-Haitien.

A key characteristic of a strong community is that neighbors show up for each other in times of struggle. SOIL is continually inspired by the displays of solidarity among our team and Cap-Haïtien’s residents. When unprecedented floods struck Cap-Haïtien in early December, it was many hands–driven by the remarkable strength of the Haitian heart–that enabled us to continue our sanitation services without interruption.

Flood Dec 2025 Mud Three Wheeler — *One of SOIL’s three wheelers stuck in thick mud during the flood.*

As floodwaters surged through Cap-Haïtien, submerging streets, washing out roads, and filling neighborhoods with thick mud, our EkoLakay team members arrived to work early and stayed late in order to complete collection runs.

Navigating blocked roads and deep pools of water, they coordinated with clients to find collection points and reach as many households as possible. Neighbors rolled up their sleeves and jumped in to help guide SOIL’s three-wheelers out of potholes and mud-choked streets.

If there’s one thing that working in Haiti has taught us, it’s that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Though the floodwaters have receded and the roads are dry, the aftermath of the upheaval remains evident throughout the community.

December Flooding — *Sakapfet Okap / EkoLakay team members collecting client containers in flooded neighborhoods*

Potholes, damaged homes, and debris are all reminders of the many months of recovery work that lay ahead. While the major streets downtown received some cleanup attention, many communities situated on the outskirts of Cap-Haïtien will continue to face the heavy lift of dealing with the containment and removal of waste brought by the floods into their lakous, ditches, and public spaces in the weeks and months to come.

A map of the neighborhoods in Cap-Haitien most impacted by the floods.

Assessing the Damage

SOIL’s operations team assessed that over 2,050 EkoLakay client households were affected by this flooding event—63% of families on the EkoLakay service—and significant damage was caused to twelve SOIL employee homes. For six days, from December 4 to December 9, SOIL operated under emergency protocols in order to ensure we maintained essential services, prioritized employee safety, and addressed supply chain challenges.

With the support of our friends at Cartier Philanthropy, we swiftly mobilized an emergency fund to aid flood recovery efforts. Thanks to their generosity, we’ve been able to respond quickly and effectively.

Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished so far:

Employee Support

For the twelve staff members whose homes were severely flooded, SOIL offered support for house repairs and replacing lost/ruined belongings (bed frames, mattresses, furniture, etc) .

“We had several bags of cement we were going to use for our house stored on our porch—that is until rain and wind poured down and the cement was rendered useless.” - EkoLakay Staff Member

Cleaning and disinfection kits were distributed to SOIL’s staff, ensuring they and their families had the tools needed to meet basic needs. Additionally, bonuses were provided to EkoLakay staff members who worked on collection runs during and after the emergency, recognizing their extraordinary efforts.

Prof Sakapfet Collect Cap — *Sakapfet Okap / SOIL team members on a collection run during the flood in December*

EkoLakay Client Support

To gain a deeper understanding of our clients' challenges, SOIL sales agents surveyed impacted households, spoke with individuals who were displaced from their homes, and documented the types of belongings that were ruined by the floods.

For many of our clients, the loss of belongings and resources may take months, even years, to fully recover from. Recognizing this, SOIL waived service fees for all EkoLakay clients for the month of December. On top of making our sanitation service free of charge, hygiene kits including soap, toiletries and toilet paper were provided to impacted clients to support their recovery.

sanitation supplies — *Sanitation kit preparations by SOIL staff to distribute to client homes*

Community Support

With immense amounts of water having carved out and deepened ruts along Cap-Haïtien’s steep and winding roads, transportation remains nearly impossible in some areas, hampering both SOIL’s operations and daily life for residents.

To address this, SOIL began discussions with the Cap-Haïtien’s mayor’s office to lay gravel and rock in the most affected areas, improving road conditions for everyone. These efforts are essential not only for the continuity of EkoLakay services but also for the overall mobility and recovery of the city.

The Road Ahead

At SOIL, we’ve always been more than a sanitation service provider. Although it is not our everyday focus, we are prepared to step forward and are always ready to do what we can to meet the needs of our community during times of crisis.

Christmas celebrations and traditions were impacted by flood recovery work but our clients and team have continued navigating the challenges with extraordinary resilience. The holiday season, typically reserved for rest and reflection, was instead a testament to strength and determination.

Thanks to the leadership and vision of our SOIL team, we remain committed to finding innovative solutions to every challenge we face, both now and in the weeks to come. As the situation continues to improve, we will keep our supporters updated on our progress.

For now, we invite you to applaud the incredible men and women of SOIL who have shown immense courage in the face of this adversity. To our team members who have selflessly prioritized the well-being of their families and communities, we extend our deepest gratitude.