Hazards case studies (Haiti) Flashcards
1
Q
What was the magnitude of the Haiti Earthquake
A
7.0
2
Q
what is the date of the EQ
A
12th Jan 2010 at 4:53 local time
3
Q
Where is Haiti
A
caribbean, Located on the northern end of the caribbean plate
4
Q
What caused the earthquake
A
conservative boundary between the caribbean plate and the northern american plate causing friction between the 2 eventually one plate springs above the other causing a EQ
5
Q
what are the primary effects
A
- 3 million people affected
- 217,000 to 230,000 people died
- 300,000 injured
- 1,000,000 people left homeless
- 30,000 commercial buildings destroyed and 230,000 residential homes too
6
Q
what are the secondary effects
A
- 2 million people left with no food or fresh water
- regular power cuts
- crime rates increased due to the scarce resources of essential items
- temp shelters
- outbreaks of cholera
7
Q
What were the immediate responses
A
- due to the airport being damaged aid was very slow to arrive
- USA sent 10,000 troops
- UK government send £20,000,000
- Water and tablets provided
- 235,000 people moved away to safety cities
8
Q
What were the long term responses
A
- Overseas aid given to Haiti
- New safer homes rebuilt to higher standards
- Over 1,000,000 people still lived in temporary housing up to 1 year after the EQ
- Port was rebuilt to ensure trade could happen again to try and increase the local economy again and help contribute to the damage
9
Q
Why did so many people die?
A
- The EQ itself was very shallow and close to the surface of the earth so therefore it carried more energy causing a higher magnitude
- The epicentre was located 25km away from the main capital city ( the most densely populated area in Haiti )
- Haiti is the poorest place in the western Hemisphere
- Buildings were unsafe
- 4 in 5 people lived in slums and experienced a form of poverty
- Only one airport and it got destroyed
- Causing response teams to take 48 hours to arrive
- Shortage of doctors
