DISASTER ANALYSIS: 2010 HAITI EARTHQUAKE
Natural hazards had reached catastrophic proportions, leading to destruction and
displacement, showing the need for greater attention to disaster management. An integral part of
reducing these impacts and a focus of disaster management is risk and vulnerability assessment.
In this paper, the group analyze the 2010 Haiti earthquake, identifying the root causes and hazard
effects, which in turn leads to a prediction of the risk variables.
Haiti is 27,750 km2 (10,714 square miles) in size, the third largest country in
the Caribbean by area, and has an estimated population of 11.4 million, making it the most
populous country in the Caribbean. The capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince. In addition to its special
location, it is bounded by tectonic plates that contribute to the occurrence of earthquakes,
volcanoes and tectonic tsunamis. Because Haiti is located in the northern Caribbean region, the
country is not exempt from such disasters. And on January 12, 2010, the country was hit by an
earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. An area known as strike-slip where tectonic plates
reside on either side of a fault. The lines move horizontally in opposite directions, as if rubbing
hands together, this is where the earthquake that hit Haiti happened. When these plates come
together, tension increases, and when they eventually begin to slip, a jolt is created. In this
relatively shallow earthquake near the densely populated metropolis of Port-au-Prince, the plates
slipped and pressed against each other. It's a deadly combination, but the sudden leap wasn't the
only thing, because the buildings in this impoverished country are not designed to withstand strong
vibrations.
The earthquake killed 315,000 persons. The impact of this disaster resulted in the
disruption of the society with environmental effects that reshaped the entire landscape; laving a
trail of falling tress and accumulated debris. The social impact of this disaster were loss of life,
epidemics that left many communities disrupted and hundreds of thousands of people displaced.
In addition to the main damage caused by excavation from the earthquake, there were also
secondary hazards that caused additional losses to vulnerable people and property. These
secondary hazards are liquefaction and landslides. Sediments at or near the bottom surface lose
their strength in response to strong ground movement, while landslides can be triggered by the
movement of a mass of rock, debris, or soil down a slope. Both dangers can increase. the damage
and casualties in the nation of Haiti. Since Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western
hemisphere, ts vulnerability to disasters is due not only to its geographical location, but also to
weak state institutions and high levels of corruption. There were very few earthquake-resistant
buildings, poor infrastructure, deforestation, and a lack of earthquake and storm preparedness such
as health centers and evacuation shelters. With this risk he brought massive devastation to the
country.
Countries economic, social and political climate are severely affected after such destruction
by a natural hazard. It often leaves the country exposed to other threats as seen in Haiti which
experienced a severe outbreak of cholera after the earthquake devastation. While natural disasters
have a lethal reputation, secondary effects such as, food shortage, genocide, illness, civil and
political violence in some countries still count for the highest numbers of deaths. Even more
devastating is the extent of human suffering and displacement, which prevails long after the
disaster has occurred, as exhibited by the number of persons living in camps in Haiti. In these
instances, it is often the poor who are most adversely affected.
The 2010 earthquake in Haiti had an unprecedented impact. The dual loss of leadership by
the Haitian government and the United Nations (UN) prompted an atypical US government and
military response to the disaster: although the response was massive, leadership and logistical
support were initially inadequate as the system struggled with the overwhelming influx of non-
traditional authorities and individuals, complicating the healthcare response. In addition, the
delivery of care services exceeded the country's health care standards. The US government's
approach resembled an internal government-wide response combined with a massive military
presence that went beyond logistical support.
From this review it was found that the most critical factors contributing to Haiti high
susceptibility to earthquake are: poor construction and materials, lack of planning and building
regulations, lack of awareness that earthquakes are a significant threat and poverty. Emphasis must
therefore be placed on improving these key areas and equitably distribute wealth, which has a
history of political corruption.
Reflecting from what happened to 2010 Haiti Earthquake, and considering that our country
Philippines is also one of the poorest countries, we should also give emphasis on the recommended
areas to improve concerning risk reduction and protection of human life, so that when the “Big
One” will occur, we are READY.
Submitted by:
Espinosa, Angelo P.
Rosales, Cristina B.
Tarun, Ma. Lyla Jean Z.
Submitted to:
Atty. Roderick Bautista
Professor- National Resources and Environmental Law
