Haiti earthquake 2010

Question 1

social impacts

Answer 1

• 222500 deaths
• 1.5 million homeless
• 800,000 people to live outdoors in 450 improvides camps
• disease e.g. cholera

Question 2

economic impacts

Answer 2

• capitals main port was destroyed
• phone lines failed
• > 70% earn

Question 3

environmental impacts

Answer 3

• Leogane had 80-90% buildings destroyed

- Port-au-prince:80% schools, hospitals, tax office and parliament destroyed

Question 4

why did tectonic setting make haiti so bad?

Answer 4

located on Enriquillo fault, northern edge of Caribbean plate, slipping eastwards by 8cm a year

Question 5

other physical factors made haiti bad

Answer 5

movement was underground between depths of 2.8km. shallow focus earthquake

Question 6

nature of bedrock

Answer 6

soft sedimentary rock that was damaged by seismic waves, causing massive damage

Question 7

population density

Answer 7

rapidly growing population pushed people to live in unsuitable areas e.g. flood planes and steep unstable hillsides. informal settlements had weak infrastructure and water/sewage systems were poor. 1.2 million lived in worst affected area

Question 8

level of economic development

Answer 8

low levels of economic development, >70% earn

Question 9

building and structure vulnerability

Answer 9

constructors had used brittle steel, weak cement mixed with dirty or salty sand, and often steel reinforcement rods had been terminated at the joints between columns and floors of buildings, where earthquake stresses are highest

Question 10

levels of preparedness and response

Answer 10

slow pace of rebuilding, and arguments over relief efforts. the government have responsibility to establish priorities, rebuild infrastructure and keep people informed

Question 11

political instability

Answer 11

after 30 years of dictatorship (ended in 1986) Haiti remained politically unstable and corrupt. violent confrontations between rival gangs and political groups, and drug trafficking have corrupted the system