Restless Earth Case Study - Haiti

Question 1

Where was the earthquake?

Answer 1

Conservative plate boundary between North American and Caribbean plate

Question 2

Facts about the actual earthquake

Answer 2

• 7.0 on the Richter scale and was followed by more minor tremors of up to 5.0
• Epicentre 15km from the capital (Port-au-Prince) and had a very shallow focus
• Over 80% lived in poorly constructed, high density, concrete buildings

Question 3

What were the short term effects?

Answer 3

• Deaths of 230,000
• 1.5 million made homeless
• 2 million were affected
• 180,000 homes were destroyed, creating 19 million metres cubed of rubble
• 5000 schools were damaged or destroyed
• Electricty, water, sanitation and communications were disrupted or destroyed
• Damage of $11.5 billion over 5-10 years

Question 4

What were the long term effects?

Answer 4

• Homeless accommodated in 1100 camps many of which were for over a year with little water and sanitation
• Cholera killed many
• Storms and flooding caused more issues
• People earned less than $2 a day and so were too poor to cope
• Port and airport destroyed so it was difficult for aid to be delivered

Question 5

What were the responses?

Answer 5

• Unstable government caused a limited and chaotic search and slow recovery
• Lack of doctors hospitals and supplies led to many dying from diseases
• UN and USA provided security for law and order as well as aid distribution
• UK’s disasters emergency committee (DEC) raised £100 million+
• 3/4 of damaged buildings were repaired
• 200,000 received cash or food for public work

Question 6

When was the earthquake?

Answer 6

4:53pm on the 12th January 2010