Jamaica is a densely populated Small Island Developing State with a population of approximately 2.6 million people. It is vulnerable to a number of natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and flash floods. Between the last quarter of 2001 and November 2002, the island suffered from several floods and landslides associated with tropical storms and other types of severe weather. In late May 2002, a broad surface trough associated with a lowpressure system produced heavy thunderstorms. In some areas, recorded rainfall exceeded one metre in the nine days from 22-30 May Average rainfall during the period for the most affected areas was 500 millimetres.