Week 16 Final Blog Isaiah Adrien
As if Haiti's misfortunes weren't enough, it is now in the midst of a dual catastrophe—earthquakes and hurricanes, which have left the island only as a wretched witness in ruins. The earthquakes are, geologically speaking, the result of the collision of two tectonic plates, North American and Caribbean at this very place combined with many faults in the area, the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault system running through the region being the most significant one. In this manner, the geologic setting is the ground for the strong and shallow earthquakes that may hit without prior notice, just like the earthquakes of 2010 and 2021. Natural disasters of comparable destructiveness characterize hurricanes as well. Haiti is located right underneath the zone of Atlantic tropical storms, and the island's environmental degradation is a large factor as well. Heavy rainfall caused by the storms combined with the steepness of the land can easily result in landslides and flooding, which, in turn, worsen the ecological situation of Haiti. The state has identified these two natural events as the primary factors contributing to mortality and destruction because they are responsible for the highest rates of death, long-term displacement, and infrastructure damage throughout the country.
Haiti can lessen the likelihood of earthquakes causing major disasters through the enforcement of seismic building codes, and monitoring of active faults to prevent building in high-stress areas. In addition, the training of communities in earthquake preparedness as well as the positioning of emergency supplies would minimize deaths even in the case of significant shaking. For hurricanes, the most important preventive measures consist of reforestation to secure slopes, restoration of mangroves along unprotected coasts, and building of shelters in every high-risk commune that can withstand the storm. The early-warning systems like SMS alerts and radio-based communication networks would enhance the success of evacuation strategies before hurricanes reach land significantly.
The initial batch of donated emergency resources should immediately go to southern and western Haiti, since these locations always experience the harshest of the natural disasters. The Sud, Grand'Anse, and Nippes departments are extremely high risk: they are located next to the largest faults and at the very edge of the way of several hurricanes. The Port-au-Prince metropolitan area together with its very densely populated neighborhoods of Carrefour, Pétion-Ville, and Delmas, possesses poor infrastructure and is located near important fault lines, which would then result in the outcome of an earthquake be especially disastrous. Not only are these areas prone to hazards but they also have a huge population with low resilience, thus they deserve to be first in the line for investments in safer infrastructure, slope stabilization, and community shelters.
When it comes to picking a spot for building a house in Haiti, the main goal is to get a site that has less seismic activity, flood resistant, and is at a higher elevation above the storm surge. One of the safer places would be the north interior of the country, mainly the regions in Nord and some areas of Plateau Central, which are a good distance from the main earthquake-producing faults and the coastline. It is better to take gently sloping land (not steep hillsides) since landslide risk is less. Avoiding riverbanks during hurricanes will keep people safe from flooding. The house that is earthquake proof and reinforced and is built on stable inland grounds will have the best overall protection against the two main hazards of Haiti.
The most significant risks in Haiti result from a mixture of very strong natural forces and extreme susceptibility due to the very poor conditions of the environment, poverty, and weak infrastructure. Earthquakes and hurricanes can still be counted on, but their effects could be greatly lessened through stronger regulations on the construction, proper restoration of the environment, and installation of support in the most vulnerable areas. Resilience in the long run will be greatly enhanced in Haiti if mitigation is treatment, high-exposure communities are prioritized, and safe zones for pole development are chosen. Furthermore, these measures constitute the very basis of an efficient national hazards strategy and also the very first steps in terms of protecting the lives of many people.
Sources: https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/country/haiti
Nice final reflection!
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