Earthquake Case Study: Haiti

Question 1

When did Haiti’s 2010 earthquake hit?

Answer 1

12th January

Question 2

What was the magnitude of the earthquake?

Answer 2

7.0

Question 3

What was the cause of the earthquake?

Answer 3

The build up of pressure between the North Caribbean plate and the North/South American plates (conservative plate boundary)

Question 4

What were the primary impacts of the earthquake?

Answer 4

Buildings were destroyed - including hospitals, university, police station and the presidential building

Question 5

What were some secondary impacts of the earthquake?

Answer 5

Lack of food and water, backlog of injured people at makeshift hospitals, 300,000 homeless, Looting for supplies, 250,000 people dead,

Question 6

What were some immediate responses to the earthquake?

Answer 6

AID after 5 days which was difficult to receive due to small airport, American aircraft carrier launched, helicopters to hand out water

Question 7

What other factors affected Haiti’s ability to cope with the earthquake?

Answer 7

• Condition of their independence from France was a debt that took 120 years to pay (until they were released)
• High levels of corruption within the government, USA imported goods, damaging the economy, in return for army presence
• The poorest country outside Africa
• 4/5 earn less than $1 a day
• 4 hurricanes in 2008 - no time for people to recover