Case Study - Haiti Earthquake - 2010 Flashcards
Where is Haiti
Haiti is in the continent of North America
Region: Caribbean
Haiti is an island country
What type of country is Haiti
Haiti is a High Income Country (LIC)
What is Haiti’s Human Development Index (HDI)
Haiti HDI: 0.535 ranked 263rd in the world
What caused the Haiti Earthquake
Haiti is situated at the northern end of the Caribbean Plate, on a conservative plate boundary with the North American Plate (two continental plates)
The Caribbean plate and the North American plate move past each other. This movement is not smooth, and there is friction between two plates. Pressure builds between the two plates until released as an earthquake.
When did the earthquake occur
The Haiti earthquake occurred on January 12th, 2010, at 16.53 (EST local time)
What was the magnitude of the Earthquake
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 (on the richter scale)
Where did the earthquake strike
The epicentre was near the town of Léogâne, Ouest department, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The earthquake’s focus was 13km below the Earth’s surface.
What were the Primary Effect (SOCIAL)
20,000 people were killed. (because Earthquake struck only 25km away from the most densely populated area of the country, Port-Au-Prince)
300,000 people were injured.
The main port was badly damaged.
8 hospitals collapsed.
100,000 houses were destroyed and 200,000 were damaged.
4000 schools were damaged or destroyed
The main prison was destroyed and 4,000 inmates escaped
The president’s palace and 60% of government buildings were destroyed
What were the Primary Effect (Economic)
30,000 commercial buildings collapsed leading to a loss of trade an income for the already crippled economy
The clothing industry, which accounts for two-thirds of Haiti’s exports, reported structural damage at manufacturing facilities. It is estimated the 1 in 5 jobs were lost as a result of the quake
What were the Primary Effect (Environmental )
Sea levels in local areas changed as some parts of the land sinking below the sea.
The roads were littered with cracks and fault lines
Small scale pollution by leakage of oil and other chemicals into the surrounding environment because of a ruputre to industrial facilities
What were the Secondary Effect (Social)
1.3 million people became homeless.
2 million people were left without food and water.
Frequent power cuts occurred.
Crime increased - looting became a problem
By November 2010 there were outbreaks of cholera
What were the Secondary Effect (Economic)
Economic Cost: $7.9 billion
Airport and port was damaged meaning damage to imports and exports as well as a slowdown in the rescue and response from overseas.
What were the Secondary Effect (Environmental)
Deforestation/forest clearance to make way for temporary camps and for building materials
Pollution of water supply lead to cholera epidemic
What were the immediate resposnes
Crucial aid was slow to arrive due to the damaged port.
USA sent rescue teams and 10,000 troops.
Bottled water and purification tablets were provided.
235,000 people were moved to less-damaged cities away from Port-au-Prince.
The UK government donated £20 million.
What were the long-term responses
Haiti was dependent on overseas aid.
New homes were built to a higher standard although the response was slow.
One year after the earthquake, over one million people were still living in temporary shelters.
The port needed rebuilding which required a large amount of investment.
