Haiti (LIC Seismic Case Study)

Question 1

Spatial and temporal setting

Answer 1

12th January, 2010. Haiti. Magnitude: 7.0 MMS

Question 2

Cause of the event

Answer 2

• Enriquillo Plantain Garden fault system.
• Energy released along 65km
• Land movement of 1.8m.
• Epicentre 25km from Port Au Prince. Shallow focus of 13km.

Question 3

Why were the people of Haiti so vulnerable?

Answer 3

• High levels of poverty: GNI $660 per capita
• Dependence on remittance
• Low access to basic services
• Seismically active area
• Not fully recovered from previous hazards
• Lack of emergency planning

Question 4

Primary impacts

Answer 4

• 70% of buildings collapsed
• around 230,000 deaths and 3,000 injured
• Government buildings destroyed
• All hospitals in Port Au Prince destroyed and around 1300 schools

Question 5

Secondary impacts

Answer 5

• 4000 inmates escaped
• 2.3 million made homeless
• Break down of law and order. Looting and violence
• Cholera outbreak due to damaged water supplies
• $8 billion economic costs. Further government debt

Question 6

Relief stage

Answer 6

Local people undertake search and rescue

Question 7

Rehabilitation stage

Answer 7

• Neighbouring countries sent aid

- Tents and temporary accommodation set up

Question 8

Reconstruction stage

Answer 8

• World bank cancelled half of Haiti’s debt
• Cash-for-work programmes
• Buildings assessed for damage. Development programmes for rebuild.
• WB funded 140,000 children’s education
• Plan of action created by government and creation of disaster plan

Question 9

Why was the response so poor?

Answer 9

• Lack of infrastructure, disaster preparedness plans and equipment
• Damage to port and airport so difficult to receive resources
• Ineffective government
• Unable to afford to assist themselves (LIC)