HAITI EARTHQUAKE rEACTION AND MITIGATION
The Haiti earthquake triggered an outstanding international rescue effort. First accounts of the disaster emerged on social media and confirmations were made less than 4 hours later. Within hours after hearing about the quake, governments around the world promised to provide Haiti with money, food and medical aids, they even sent planes carrying gallons of water and military assistance. Teams from over 20 countries were working on finding survivors. Ships and planes began to bring in food and supplies, however the delivering of this food and supplies was not easy since roads were blocked from fallen debris. It was only Six days after the earthquake that doctors established 4 treatment facilities and the USNS began to receive injured patients, however because an excessive amount of people were injured, some patients were turned away. Finding survivors was extremely difficult, people used shovels, bare hands, and hammers to tackle the towering piles of rubble and dealing with the dead was hard since there was just not enough place to bury all the bodies.
Haiti needs to have a more effective earthquake plan to reduce the amount of people dead. I cannot even tell you how many people are dead because of silly circumstances. - Paul (survivor)
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE?
We have learned that we must be more aware and educated about earthquakes and must be prepared for one to occur on any day. Here is a list of how nations can be better prepared for an earthquake, so that they can reduce its impact on its people:
Build earthquake proof buildings:
Earthquake prone areas must live up to a building standard in which buildings are made earthquake resistant. In the Haiti earthquake, a combination of a large population and poorly constructed buildings led to a high death toll. Countries need to have regulations to control building processes so that they can withstand earthquakes, theses controls need to be especially evident in public buildings such as hospitals, prisons and police stations
Earthquake drills and eduction:
Earthquake prone areas must put in place earthquake drills and educational courses teaching people about what to do when there is an earthquake. In the Haiti Earthquake more than 75% of the population was uneducated as to what they should do under the circumstances of an earthquake, this led to the incredibly high death toll. Families also need to be educated about safety at home, they should be prepared with safety kits and important documents. Children and people in Haitian schools and workplaces did not practise earthquake drills either, this once again contributed to the high death toll. In Japan, many schools have regular earthquake drills where they practise the method of drop and cover, these drills increased the Japanese earthquake survival rate by 23%.
Creating an earthquake plan:
Earthquake prone areas should develop an earthquake plan. This plan should incorporate a financing program in which, if an earthquake did occur, money would still be available for rebuilding and life saving purposes. This plan should also incorporate a re- constructional procedure, this procedure would guide people as to how the reconstruction would take place and how much money etc. would be spent on any particular building.
Build earthquake proof buildings:
Earthquake prone areas must live up to a building standard in which buildings are made earthquake resistant. In the Haiti earthquake, a combination of a large population and poorly constructed buildings led to a high death toll. Countries need to have regulations to control building processes so that they can withstand earthquakes, theses controls need to be especially evident in public buildings such as hospitals, prisons and police stations
Earthquake drills and eduction:
Earthquake prone areas must put in place earthquake drills and educational courses teaching people about what to do when there is an earthquake. In the Haiti Earthquake more than 75% of the population was uneducated as to what they should do under the circumstances of an earthquake, this led to the incredibly high death toll. Families also need to be educated about safety at home, they should be prepared with safety kits and important documents. Children and people in Haitian schools and workplaces did not practise earthquake drills either, this once again contributed to the high death toll. In Japan, many schools have regular earthquake drills where they practise the method of drop and cover, these drills increased the Japanese earthquake survival rate by 23%.
Creating an earthquake plan:
Earthquake prone areas should develop an earthquake plan. This plan should incorporate a financing program in which, if an earthquake did occur, money would still be available for rebuilding and life saving purposes. This plan should also incorporate a re- constructional procedure, this procedure would guide people as to how the reconstruction would take place and how much money etc. would be spent on any particular building.