Environmental Effects Of The Haiti Earthquake

An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hit the island of Haiti on January 12, 2010, killing anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 people, injuring another 300,000 others, and leaving over 1.5 million without homes (Fleddermann, 2012, p.116). The majority of the destruction and human toll occurred in Port au Prince, the capital city of Haiti, although the effects of the earthquake were spread throughout the island. Aside from the many people who died, were injured, or left homeless, those involved in this disaster are the Haitian government, the United Nations, civil engineers, the press, relief organizations, and the United States. Although initially perceived as simply a natural disaster, it becomes apparent through further research that the degree of loss experienced might have been lessened if certain procedures and codes were in place and followed to increase the safety and integrity of the buildings in Haiti.

In Haiti, building codes and regulations are all but nonexistent, so the minimum safety standard is not sufficient for people to be dwelling in the buildings. Since there is not a lot of wood available due to deforestation, concrete is the primary building material used for most of the structures, according to Alan Dooley, a Nashville architect (Fountain, 2010). Concrete is costly and the cement

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