M7.0 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES HAITI THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE’S POOREST NATION WITH 8 IN 10 AT POVERTY LEVEL 4:52 p.m.; JANUARY 12, 2010 From the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction With contributions from NEMO Secretariat Saint Lucia

LOCATION

It was the largest quake ever recorded in the area and the first major one since a M6.7 temblor in 1984 IT OCCURRED IN THE NORTH AMERICAN-CARIBBEAN PLATE SUBDUCTION ZONE

LOCATION

A CAPITOL OF 1.8 MILLION IN A NATION OF NINE MILLION

SHALLOW HYPOCENTER The US Geological Survey reported that the earthquake was centered about 10 miles (16 km) west of Port- au-Prince, with 1.8 million people in the area at high risk. The quake’s shallow depth - about 5 miles (8 km), exacerbated damage.

GROUND SHAKING HAZARD MAP

TSUNAMI WARNING A tsunami warming was issued and later withdrawn.

THE PRESIDENT OF HAITI SURVIVED The President survived and took control of the emergency response.

SOCIETAL IMPACTS The lives of 3 million people were adversely impacted. Saving Haitian lives is priority one. A major concern is how to care for the homeless and injured and how and where to provide temporary housing for them.

CATASTROPHIC DEATH TOLL FEARED The fear is that thousands of casualties will be found during the search and rescue operations and as rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings is cleared.

PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREET: JANUARY 12

EVACUATION OF INJURED

BUILDING DAMAGE Thousands of buildings (houses, schools, hospitals) were damaged or destroyed. The airport communication tower was damaged, but a runway was operational.

AIRPORT DAMAGE The airport communication tower was damaged, but a runway was operational.

INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE Power was knocked out. Communication was disrupted. Utility service was interrupted.

CLASSIC “X” CRACKS: PORT AU PRINCE

CLASSIC “PANCAKE” EFFECT: PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE

EXAMPLE OF DAMAGE: PORT AU PRINCE

SOCIETAL IMPACTS: PUBLIC BUILDINGS Numerous public buildings were destroyed, including: a hospital, the Presidential Palace, the parliament building, the Finance Ministry, The Public Works Ministry, the Palace of Justice and Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Port-au- Prince, the national cathedral

OFFICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS The building housing the United Nations personnel collapsed, slowing, but not stopping UN humanitarian asistance.

DAMAGE: PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE The USA provided immediate assistance (e.g., financial, logistical, security, and damage assessment) at the request of the President of Haiti.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE Other nations began to provide assistance in many forms immediately.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE International NGO’s responded immediately (e.g., Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, International Federation Red Cross, etc.,).

Global Assistance

Canada, Australia, France and a number of Latin American and Caribbean nations have also said they are mobilising their aid response.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: TO ASSIST

POVERTY EXACERBATED BY PAST DISASTERS Hurricane Gordon killed more than 1,000 people in 1994 Hurricane Georges killed more than 400 and destroyed most of the crops in 1998.

HAITI IMPACTED BY PAST DISASTERS In 2004, heavy rains from Hurricane Jeanne caused landslides and flooding that killed more than 3,000 people, mostly in the city of Gonaives. Gonaives was hit again in 2008, by four tropical storms.

THE KEY IS: 1) KNOW THE DISASTER HISTORY OF YOUR REGION 2) KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY Lesson Source: Primer Series Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction