Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, has been affected by various natural disasters throughout the years. Floods have cause many deaths and have destroyed homes throughout the country. Haiti was also devastated by an earthquake on January 10, 2010. A combination of unsatisfactory construction methods, scale of the buildings, and poor soil conditions greatly contributed to the thousands of deaths suffered by the Haitian inhabitants. While many of the larger structures were completely demolished, some of the smaller homes and shanties were relatively unharmed. In addition, buildings along the foothills of the city were affected more than nearby structures at the same elevations.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
HAITI FLOODS
Flooding is a constant threat to Haiti and its inhabitants. Floods and the mudslides cause great damage to buildings and are responsible for deaths throughout the country, sweeping away people and homes in the strong currents. In 2008, Haiti was bombarded by four deadly storms which caused a death toll of about 800 and an estimated $1 billion in damage. Thousands of people were left without homes and were forced to live in poorly constructed shelters, without food, water, or medical supplies. On June 7, 2011, after the deadly earthquake which killed thousands of people and left many individuals homeless, the Haitian people again experienced a series of heavy rains which resulted in flooding and mudslides. Homes were washed away and the death toll continued to rise as the water worsened the already poor condition of Port-au-Prince.
Haiti has experienced many different disasters which has led to billions of dollars in damages and the death of thousands of people. This graph exhibits the various natural disasters in Haiti from the past 100 years. Retrieved from the Mapping presentation from Marshall on Tools for Sustainability.
Haiti in 2001 before flooding
Haiti in 2008 after flooding. The sea level rose and inflicted damage to many cities within Haiti. Both images were from NASA, used from Marshall's page.
Areas which were flooded on June 7, 2011. Haitians suffer from another flood which worsens the already poor condition of the country. This flood followed the 2010 earthquake.
EARTHQUAKE AND TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
Port-of-Prince is at a relatively low sea level which makes it easily susceptible to floods. The following maps also exhibit the extent to which the earthquake of 2010 affected the rest of the country.
The images show the topographic information for Haiti. While much of Haiti varies in relation to sea level, the city of Port-au-Prince is set at a relatively low level and undulates very little.
Areas affected by the earthquake surrounding the epicenter. The first image is shown at a larger scale while the second image focuses more closely on the epicenter and the surrounding context. Although the epicenter was not at the country's capitol, Port-au-Prince suffered a majority of the damage due to poor soil and building conditions compared to the rest of the country.
Areas affected by the 2010 earthquake. Once again, Port-au-Prince and the immediate context suffered the most from the earthquake.
Areas which were affected and categorized through intensity of damage. Also shows the movement of the population away from the more severely damaged areas.
NATIONAL PALACE AND JUSTICE MINISTRY
The 2010 earthquake affected much of the city of Port-au-Prince, including the symbols of authority in Haiti. Both the National Palace and Justice Ministry were destroyed during the event, and many of the city inhabitants made tent dwellings in the adjacent park.
September 2008
June 13, 2010
June 16, 2010
Justice Ministry
National Palace
EARTHQUAKE AFTERMATH
The following images exhibit the conditions of Haiti before and after the 2010 earthquake. A couple days after the destruction of the city, many Haitians were forced to move to the various open spaces outside of the rubble, such as this golf course. Over the course of three days, the golf course was full of tents and became a refuge for those in need.
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