A magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred at 06:55:30 UTC (02:55:30 local time) on 28 December 2015, at 26 km (16 mi) SW of Saint-Pierre, Martinique 32 km (20mi) W of Fort-de-France, Martinique, 82 km (51 mi) S of Roseau, Dominica and 78 km (46 mi) NNW of Castries, Saint Lucia. Initial estimates from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) located the epicentre of the event at 14.593ºN, 61.371ºW, and at a depth of 152.9 km.

The Caribbean Rainfall Model (operated by Kinetic Analysis Corporation (KAC)) indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Grenada starting and ending on 9 November 2015.

The Caribbean Rainfall Model (operated by Kinetic Analysis Corporation (KAC)) indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Haiti starting 7 November and ending 9 November 2015.

The Caribbean Rainfall Model (operated by Kinetic Analysis Corporation (KAC)) indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Turks and Caicos Islands starting and ending on 20 October 2015.

The Caribbean Rainfall Model (operated by Kinetic Analysis Corporation (KAC)) indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Haiti starting and ending on 18 October 2015.

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Joaquin affected the Caribbean region between 30 September and 6 October 2015 with strong winds, rainfall and storm surge. According to the CCRIF Caribbean Rainfall Model, the CCRIF member countries with Excess Rainfall (XSR) policies where a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was activated were: Haiti, Jamaica and The Bahamas. As a result, this briefing describes the reported losses and damage in Haiti, Jamaica and The Bahamas due to extreme rainfall as a result of the passage of TC Joaquin.

Tropical Cyclone Joaquin affected three CCRIF member countries: The Bahamas, Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The preliminary runs of CCRIF’s loss model indicate that none of the Tropical Cyclone policies for these countries triggered, therefore no payout is due.

Tropical Cyclone policies are designed to cover damages from wind and storm surge but not rainfall. Some of the countries affected by rainfall from Hurricane Joaquin do have policies for excess rainfall. A separate excess rainfall report will be issued.

The remnants of TC Danny (AL042015) caused heavy rainfall over the island of Dominica with areas receiving nearly 2 inches (50 mm) of rain in a short period on Monday 24 August, 2015. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis were the only CCRIF member countries with Excess Rainfall policies1 that were affected by Danny. However, a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was only triggered in Dominica, where approximately 80% of the country’s area received excess rainfall.

The Caribbean Rainfall Model (operated by Kinetic Analysis Corporation (KAC)) indicated that a Covered Area Rainfall Event (CARE) was generated in Haiti starting on 20 May 2015 and ending on 22 May 2015.

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred at 02:24:16 UTC (21:24:16 local time) on 16 April 2015 north west of Trinidad and Tobago. Initial estimates from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) locate the epicentre of the event at 10.859ºN, 62.459ºW, and at a depth of 76.5 km.