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THE HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER OF JANUARY 10, 2010 SHOULD BE PAST HISTORY BUT IT DEFINITELY ISN’T . February 21, 2012. Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA. BACKGROUND. The Disaster Began at 4:53 PM January 12, 2010.
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THE HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER OF JANUARY 10, 2010 SHOULD BE PAST HISTORYBUT IT DEFINITELY ISN’T February 21, 2012 Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA
BACKGROUND The Disaster Began at 4:53 PM January 12, 2010
M7.0 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES HAITI “THE WORST URBAN DISASTER IN A GENERATION” DEVASTATED THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE’S POOREST NATION
It was the largest quake ever recorded in the area and the first major one since a M6.7 temblor in 1984
SHALLOW HYPOCENTER • The US Geological Survey reported that the earthquake was centered about 10 miles (16 km) west of Port-au-Prince, with 1.8 million people in the area at high risk. • Lack of building codes and the quake’s shallow depth - about 5 miles (8 km), exacerbated damage.
IT OCCURRED ON THE ENRIQUILLO - PLAINTAIN GARDEN FAULT, A STRIKE SLIP FAULT ZONE THAT BEARS THE STRESS CAUSED BY THE CONVERGENCE OF THE CARIBBEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN TECTONIC PLATES IN THIS LOCATION.
BUILDING DAMAGE • Thousands of buildings (e.g., houses, businesses, schools, prisons, hospitals) were damaged or destroyed. • After years of political instability in Haiti, no modern construction standards had been implemented..
CATASTROPHIC DEATH TOLL REACHED • Over two hundred thousand casualties occurred.
THE DISASTER LINGERS ON: No Home Except a Tent or a Damaged Building [source: The Washington Post February 20, 2012
20,000 POOR HAITIANS “SQUAT” IN FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
ACTIONS ARE HAPPENING AT A SNAIL’S PACE • International Aid workers are trying to find ways to get the 20,000 people squatting in front of the National Palace to pack up and go, BUT where will they go.
ACTIONS ARE HAPPENING AT A SNAIL’S PACE • Inspectors have marked the 84,0000+ damaged buildings for demolition, BUT only 6,000 have been demolished, because the people living in them have no place to go.
THE PRICE TAG • The Haitian Government is spending $30 million to empty SIX camps--- there are 701 more.. • The Champs de Mars Project funded by Canada is spending $20 million to move 20,000 people from in front of the National Palace; leaving about 500,000 more to move,
THE GRIM REALITY No country, no group of donors, no NGO, NOONE is ready to donate $500 million to solve the humanitarian disaster in Haiti