Lesson 14-What are the impacts of and responses to earthquakes (Haiti)?

Question 1

Haiti key facts?

Answer 1

• Magnitude 7.0 Richter scale
• Focus (13km) shallow
• Epicentre: 25km SW of Port-au-Prince, in Leogane whwre 2 mil live
• Transform/ conservative plate boundary that hadnt ruptured in 200 years
• Liquefaction occured
• Amplification of the shaking due to soft sediment

Question 2

Why did it occur?

Answer 2

• The 2010 earthquake was casued by a slip along an existing fault- EnriquilloPlantain Garden fault runnijg close to the capital
• Very shallow focus meant that it was felt strongly at the epicentre aboveThe fault was offset which means it doesnt reach the surface therefore it made it harder to monitor for pre warning signs of an earthquake

Question 3

Haiti primary impacts?

Answer 3

• Estimated damage to economy was $8.5 billion causing GDP to contract by 5.1%
• Nearly 190,000 houses were badly damaged and 105,000 houses were destroyed
• An estimated 60% of government and administrative buildings were destroyed and 25% of civil servants in Port-au-Prince were killed

Question 4

Haiti secondary impacts?

Answer 4

• Effects of the earthquake set back the nation by 125 years of development
• Haiti has a low literacy rate (61%) and a life expectancy (62 years)
• Debris collapsed buildings contaminated the coastal areas and waterways

Question 5

Haiti short-term responses?

Answer 5

• Between 23 majour charities, $1.1 billion had been collected for Haiti for releif efforts, but only 2% of the money raised had been released
• Communication systems, air, land and sea transport facilities, hospitals and electrical networtks had been damaged by the earthquake, which slowed rescue and aid efforts
• Medicines San Fronteirs, a charity, tried to help casualties whilst the USA took charge of trying to coordinate Aid distribution

Question 6

Haiti long-term responses?

Answer 6

• The EU $330 million and the World Bank waived the countries debt repayments for 5 years
• 6 months fater 98% of the rubble remained uncleared, some till blocking vital access roads
• One year after 1 million still remained displaced
• The Senagalese offered land in Senagal to any Hatians who wanted it- not effective as they may have needed to leave people behind

Question 7

Human factors affacting severity?

Answer 7

• Lic
• 3 mil dense population
• Rescue teams took up to 2 days to arrive
• Very few doctors