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Overview of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Reginald DesRoches, M.EERI, Mary Comerio, M.EERI, Marc Eberhard, M.EERI, Walter Mooney, M.EERI, and Glenn J. Rix, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S1-S21 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3630129

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The 12 January 2010 M_w 7.0 earthquake in the Republic of Haiti caused an estimated 300,000 deaths, displaced more than a million people, and damaged nearly half of all structures in the epicentral area. We provide an overview of the historical, seismological, geotechnical, structural, lifeline-related, and socioeconomic factors that contributed to the catastrophe. We also describe some of the many challenges that must be overcome to enable Haiti to recover from this event. Detailed analyses of these issues are presented in other papers in this volume.

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89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters
89.20.Kk	Engineering

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Seismic Hazard Maps for Haiti

Arthur Frankel, M.EERI, Stephen Harmsen, Charles Mueller, Eric Calais, and Jennifer Haase, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S23-S41 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3631016

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We have produced probabilistic seismic hazard maps of Haiti for peak ground acceleration and response spectral accelerations that include the hazard from the major crustal faults, subduction zones, and background earthquakes. The hazard from the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden, Septentrional, and Matheux-Neiba fault zones was estimated using fault slip rates determined from GPS measurements. The hazard from the subduction zones along the northern and southeastern coasts of Hispaniola was calculated from slip rates derived from GPS data and the overall plate motion. Hazard maps were made for a firm-rock site condition and for a grid of shallow shear-wave velocities estimated from topographic slope. The maps show substantial hazard throughout Haiti, with the highest hazard in Haiti along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden and Septentrional fault zones. The Matheux-Neiba Fault exhibits high hazard in the maps for 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years, although its slip rate is poorly constrained.

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91.30.Px	Earthquakes
91.60.-x	Physical properties of rocks and minerals
89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.60.Ec	Environmental safety
91.30.Mv	Strong motions and shock waves

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Geotechnical Aspects of Failures at Port-au-Prince Seaport during the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Russell A. Green, M.EERI, Scott M. Olson, M.EERI, Brady R. Cox, M.EERI, Glenn J. Rix, M.EERI, Ellen Rathje, M.EERI, Jeff Bachhuber, James French, M.EERI, Samuel Lasley, and Nathaniel Martin

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S43-S65 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3636440

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Presented herein are the results of geotechnical investigations and subsequent laboratory and data analyses of the Port-au-Prince seaport following the M_w7.0 2010 Haiti earthquake. The earthquake caused catastrophic ground failures in calcareous-sand artificial fills at the seaport, including liquefaction, lateral spreads, differential settlements, and collapse of the pile-supported wharf and pier. The site characterization entailed geotechnical borings, hand-auger borings, standard penetration tests, and dynamic cone penetration tests. The laboratory tests included grain size and carbonate content tests. The observations and results presented herein add valuable field performance data for calcareous sands, which are relatively lacking in liquefaction case history databases, and the overall response of the artificial fills are consistent with predictions made using semi-empirical relations developed primarily from field data of silica sands.

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91.30.Px	Earthquakes
62.20.M-	Structural failure of materials
81.70.Bt	Mechanical testing, impact tests, static and dynamic loads
89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters

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Shear Wave Velocity- and Geology-Based Seismic Microzonation of Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Brady R. Cox, M.EERI, Jeff Bachhuber, M.EERI, Ellen Rathje, M.EERI, Clinton M. Wood, M.EERI, Ranon Dulberg, M.EERI, Albert Kottke, M.EERI, Russell A. Green, M.EERI, and Scott M. Olson, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S67-S92 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3630226

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A seismic site classification microzonation for the city of Port-au-Prince is presented herein. The microzonation is based on 35 shear wave velocity (V_S) profiles collected throughout the city and a new geologic map of the region. The V_S profiles were obtained using the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method, while the geologic map was developed from a combination of field mapping and geomorphic interpretation of a digital elevation model (DEM). Relationships between mean shear wave velocity over the upper 30 m of the subsurface (V_S30) and surficial geologic unit have been developed, permitting code-based seismic site classification throughout the city. A site classification map for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program/International Building Code (NEHRP/IBC) classification scheme is provided herein. Much of the city is founded on deposits that classify as either NEHRP Site Class C or D, based on V_S30. Areas of the city requiring additional subsurface information for accurate site classification are noted.

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92.10.Hm	Ocean waves and oscillations
47.35.-i	Hydrodynamic waves
83.60.Uv	Wave propagation, fracture, and crack healing
89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters

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Documenting Liquefaction and Lateral Spreading Triggered by the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Scott M. Olson, M.EERI, Russell A. Green, M.EERI, Samuel Lasley, Nathaniel Martin, Brady R. Cox, M.EERI, Ellen Rathje, M.EERI, Jeff Bachhuber, and James French

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S93-S116 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3639270

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The 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake (M_w 7.0) caused extensive damage to the Port-au-Prince region, including severe liquefaction failures along the Gulf of Gonâve coastline, along rivers north of Port-au-Prince draining into the Gulf, and a liquefaction-induced structural/bearing capacity failure of a three-story concrete hotel along the southern coast of the Gulf. During two reconnaissance missions, the authors documented ground conditions and performance at eight sites that liquefied and two sites that did not liquefy. Geotechnical characterization included surface mapping, dynamic cone penetration tests, hand auger borings, and laboratory index tests. The authors estimated median peak ground accelerations (PGAs) of approximately 0.17g to 0.48g at these sites using the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) relations summarized by Power et al. (2008). These case histories are documented here so that they can be used to augment databases of level-ground/near level-ground liquefaction, lateral spreading, liquefaction flow failure, and liquefaction-induced bearing capacity failure.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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Damage Patterns in Port-au-Prince during the 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Ellen M. Rathje, M.EERI, Jeff Bachhuber, Ranon Dulberg, Brady R. Cox, M.EERI, Albert Kottke, M.EERI, Clinton Wood, Russell A. Green, M.EERI, Scott Olson, M.EERI, Donald Wells, M.EERI, and Glenn Rix, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S117-S136 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3637056

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The 2010 Haiti earthquake represents one of the most devastating earthquakes in history. Damage to structures was widespread across the city of Port-au-Prince, but its intensity varied considerably from neighborhood to neighborhood. This paper integrates damage statistics with geologic data, shear wave velocity measurements, and topographic information to investigate the influence of these conditions on the damage patterns in the city. The results indicate that the most heavily damaged areas in downtown Port-au-Prince are underlain by Holocene alluvium with shear wave velocities that average about 350 m/s over the top 30 m. The remainder of Port-au-Prince is underlain mostly by older geologic units with higher shear wave velocities. Damage was also concentrated on hillsides around Port-au-Prince. These pockets of damage appear to have been caused by a combination of factors, including topographic amplification, soil amplification, and failure of weakly cemented, steep hillsides.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Mv	Strong motions and shock waves
91.30.Px	Earthquakes
06.30.Gv	Velocity, acceleration, and rotation

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Site Characterization and Site Response in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Susan E. Hough, Alan Yong, Jean Robert Altidor, Dieuseul Anglade, Doug Given, and Saint-Louis Mildor

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S137-S155 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3637947

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Waveform analysis of aftershocks of the M_w7.0 Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010 reveals amplification of ground motions at sites within the Cul de Sac valley in which Port-au-Prince is situated. Relative to ground motions recorded at a hard-rock reference site, peak acceleration values are amplified by a factor of approximately 1.8 at sites on low-lying Mio-Pliocene deposits in central Port-au-Prince and by a factor of approximately 2.5–3 on a steep foothill ridge in the southern Port-au-Prince metropolitan region. The observed amplitude, predominant periods, variability, and polarization of amplification are consistent with predicted topographic amplification by a steep, narrow ridge. A swath of unusually high damage in this region corresponds with the extent of the ridge where high weak-motion amplifications are observed. We use ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) imagery to map local geomorphology, including characterization of both near-surface and of small-scale topographic structures that correspond to zones of inferred amplification.

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91.30.Px

Earthquakes

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Validating Assessments of Seismic Damage Made from Remote Sensing

Edmund Booth, M.EERI, Keiko Saito, Robin Spence, M.EERI, Gopal Madabhushi, and Ronald T. Eguchi, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S157-S177 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3632109

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Assessments of damage following the 2010 Haitian earthquake were validated by comparing three datasets. The first, for 107,000 buildings, used vertical aerial images with a 15–25 cm spatial resolution. The second, for 1,241 buildings, used Pictometry images (oblique angle shots with a resolution of about 10 cm taken in four directions by aircraft). The third dataset, for 142 buildings, used ground observations. The ground observations confirmed the tendency of remote sensing to underestimate the proportion of heavily damaged and collapsed buildings, and the difficulty of making remote assessments of moderate or low damage. Bayesian statistics and sample surveys made from Pictometry images and ground observations were used to improve remote damage assessments from vertical images. The possibility of developing standard factors to correct remote assessments is discussed. The field exercise pointed to the need to produce an internationally agreed-upon set of damage definitions, suitable for postdisaster needs assessments as well as for other uses.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
02.50.-r	Probability theory, stochastic processes, and statistics
84.40.Ua	Telecommunications: signal transmission and processing; communication satellites

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Crowdsourcing for Rapid Damage Assessment: The Global Earth Observation Catastrophe Assessment Network (GEO-CAN)

Shubharoop Ghosh, Charles K. Huyck, Marjorie Greene, Stuart P. Gill, John Bevington, Walter Svekla, Reginald DesRoches, and Ronald T. Eguchi

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S179-S198 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3636416

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This paper provides an account of how the Global Earth Observation Catastrophe Assessment Network (GEO-CAN) was formed to facilitate a rapid damage assessment after the 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake. GEO-CAN emerged from the theory of crowdsourcing and remote sensing-based damage interpretation and represents a new paradigm in post-disaster damage assessment. The GEO-CAN community, working with the World Bank (WB), the United Nation Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) led the way for a rapid Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) utilizing remote-sensing based analysis as the primary source of information for building damage. The results of the GEO-CAN damage assessment were incorporated into the final PDNA framework developed by the WB-UNOSAT-JRC and adopted by the Haitian government. The GEO-CAN initiative provides valuable lessons on multi-agency collaboration, rapid and implementable damage assessment protocols under extreme situations for the disaster management profession, developmental organizations, and society.

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91.10.Da

Cartography

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Comparison of Damage Assessment Maps Derived from Very High Spatial Resolution Satellite and Aerial Imagery Produced for the Haiti 2010 Earthquake

Christina Corbane, Daniela Carrion, Guido Lemoine, and Marco Broglia

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S199-S218 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3630223

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Following the devastating M7.2 earthquake that affected Haiti on 12 January 2010 two types of building damage assessment maps were produced: 1) area-based damage assessments using pre- and post-event satellite imagery and 2) detailed building-by-building damage assessments using post-event aerial photography. In this paper, we compare the reliability and the usability of area-based damage assessment maps from satellite imagery with respect to the detailed damage assessment from aerial data. The main objective is to better understand how cooperative rapid mapping can steer the more detailed assessments that are typical in determining postdisaster recovery and reconstruction efforts. The results of these experiments indicate that damage assessment maps based on satellite data are capable of capturing the damage pattern, mainly in areas with a high level of damaged and many collapsed structures. However, these maps cannot provide the level of information needed for the quantification of damage intensity.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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Massive Damage Assessment Program and Repair and Reconstruction Strategy in the Aftermath of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake

H. Kit Miyamoto, M.EERI, Amir S. J. Gilani, and Ken Wong

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S219-S237 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3631293

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The January 2010 Haiti earthquake resulted in over 230,000 deaths, affected 3 million people, and damaged or collapsed over 200,000 structures. An unprecedented earthquake damage assessment project by a joint operation of the Haitian Ministry of Public Works, the United Nations Office of Project Services, the Pan American Development Foundation, and the authors was undertaken with three strategic goals: (1) rapid damage assessment, (2) reconstruction database development, and (3) upgrade the technical capabilities of Haitian engineers. A modified version of the Applied Technology Council’s ATC-20 technical platform, accounting for Haitian building design, was developed. As part of this program, PDA-based data collection techniques and quality-assurance programs were implemented, and approximately 600 Haitian engineers were trained. As of March 2011, approximately 400,000 buildings had been inspected. This database was used to develop: (1) repair strategies for yellow-tagged structures, and (2) reparability, reconstruction, and demolition assessments or red-tagged structures. This program could also be extended as a platform for a seismic damage evaluation and reconstruction strategies in other parts of the world.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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Interactive On-Site and Remote Damage Assessment for Urban Search and Rescue

Solveig Thorvaldsdóttir, M.EERI, Erlendur Birgisson, and Ragnar Sigbjornsson

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S239-S250 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3638715

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Extraction of victims entrapped in collapsed structures is the objective of urban search and rescue (USAR) operations. Assessing the potential for live victims and the stability of partially or totally collapsed structures are critical aspects of such operations. This paper outlines relevant activities of the first USAR team arriving in Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake and the supporting actions of their home-base team. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the different aspects of damage assessment and discuss how those aspects relate to overall USAR field operations. Guidelines developed for USAR teams are used to shed additional light on the concept of USAR-related damage assessment. Three broad types of considerations are found to constitute damage assessment, requiring varying levels of detail in damage descriptions: area reconnaissance, exterior structural evaluation, and interior structural-member evaluation. Using available information and communication technology, a home-base team can become an active player in area reconnaissance by providing pre- and post-impact information about the affected area to the USAR team.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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Effects of the January 2010 Haitian Earthquake on Selected Electrical Equipment

B. J. Goodno, M.EERI, N. C. Gould, M.EERI, P. Caldwell, M.EERI, and P. L. Gould, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S251-S276 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3636415

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The focus of this survey was to collect data on the performance of mechanical and electrical systems at selected critical facilities in Haiti. First-hand observations confirmed that nonstructural elements that are well anchored and/or laterally restrained will perform well during a moderate seismic event. However, the investigation also revealed that many critical institutions in Haiti did not utilize state-of-the-art engineering design or construction practices when installing nonstructural equipment that turned out to be crucial to their post-earthquake operations. The survey team believes that absent or poorly implemented seismic anchorage of nonstructural elements hampered the ability to restore essential systems to operation after the event.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
84.50.+d	Electric motors

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Haiti Building Failures and a Replicable Building Design for Improved Earthquake Safety

Lisa Holliday, M.EERI and Hank Grant

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S277-S297 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3636386

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Christianville is a group of U.S. mission projects (education, medical, dental, and eye) located 8 km east of Léogâne and near the epicenter of the 12 January 2010 earthquake. The facility consists of a conglomeration of buildings built using Haitian construction methods over the past 40 years and serves as a microcosm of Haitian building techniques in the remainder of the country. There was significant variation in the performance of the buildings during the earthquake—some buildings completely collapsed, while others survived without a crack. Much can be learned from both the buildings that failed and the buildings that did not fail. This paper provides an analysis of the buildings on the site from various perspectives, including earthquake survivability, construction techniques, structural details, and changes that could be made to improve survivability in the future and the issues involved in a new adaptable building design.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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Assessment of Residential Housing in Léogâne, Haiti, and Identification of Needs for Rebuilding after the January 2010 Earthquake

Dustin Mix, Tracy Kijewski-Correa, and Alexandros A. Taflanidis

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S299-S322 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3637942

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Two months after the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, a reconnaissance team from the University of Notre Dame traveled to Léogâne with a follow up trip in August 2010. The team sought to determine the failure modes for residential housing in the area and survey the structural systems, construction materials, building practices, and non-engineering constraints that dictate these practices. The failure modes observed were commonly initiated from undersized/under-reinforced columns, though even structures with adequately sized columns sustained significant damage due to shear forces transferred by stiff but brittle unreinforced masonry walls. Inadequate seismic detailing of reinforced concrete elements, deficient materials and construction practices, and lack of seismic considerations in the design of structural systems with sufficient lateral interconnectivity were also observed. Finally, strategies now being pursued by the authors will be showcased in an effort to develop multihazard-resilient housing that can be sustained locally.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters
91.30.Mv	Strong motions and shock waves

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Recipe for Disaster: Construction Methods, Materials, and Building Performance in the January 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Justin D. Marshall, M.EERI, Anna F. Lang, M.EERI, Steven M. Baldridge, M.EERI, and Daniel R. Popp

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S323-S343 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3637031

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The earthquake that shook Hispaniola on 12 January 2010 devastated Haiti. The damage was widespread due to uncontrolled construction, poor material quality, and lack of rigorous engineering design. Post-event reconnaissance has brought to light serious deficiencies in these areas. Residential buildings in Haiti are typically constructed by their owners, who may or may not have the skills or resources to build a structure that is earthquake-safe. Few structures are designed by engineering professionals or are inspected for quality of construction. The two most common construction materials are masonry block and reinforced concrete. Masonry blocks, concrete cylinders, and reinforcing steel were taken from Haiti and tested in the United States. The concrete and masonry were shown to be of low strength and quality. The steel samples show expected strength properties with some specimens having reduced ductility due to bending. Building performance is demonstrated by reconnaissance photographs and case studies of the structures inspected by reconnaissance team members.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters
91.30.Mv	Strong motions and shock waves

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Devil in the Details: Success and Failure of Haiti’s Nonengineered Structures

Anna F. Lang, M.EERI and Justin D. Marshall, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S345-S372 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3638136

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The M_w 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 exposed deeply rooted weaknesses of the built environment. Numerous factors contributed to the severity of this disaster, including building materials, design, construction, and oversight, all of which were deficient and represent a lower bound condition. Yet despite poor quality, some structures were undamaged. A minor change in construction sequence resulted in an altered load path and a drastically different outcome for some buildings. Infilled frame systems performed poorly and account for the majority of structural collapses. Buildings assembled in a manner similar to confined masonry, however, performed well and experienced little damage. Damage assessments conducted around Port-au-Prince reveal that 20% of the housing stock was completely destroyed and 27% was significantly damaged. These assessments illuminate Haiti’s vulnerability to future and repeated devastation, since the remaining damaged and brittle structures could likely not sustain additional excitation.

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91.30.Px	Earthquakes
46.50.+a	Fracture mechanics, fatigue and cracks
89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters

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Measures of the Seismic Vulnerability of Reinforced Concrete Buildings in Haiti

Patrick O’Brien, Marc Eberhard, M.EERI, Olafur Haraldsson, Ayhan Irfanoglu, M.EERI, David Lattanzi, Steven Lauer, and Santiago Pujol, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S373-S386 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3637034

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Following the 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake, teams of students and faculty members from the United States and Haiti surveyed 170 reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in Port-au-Prince and Léogâne. This paper summarizes the survey results and compares them with results from a similar survey done after the 1999 earthquakes near Düzce, Turkey. The survey results demonstrate that the frequency of damage in RC buildings was higher in Haiti than in Turkey. This increased level of damage is consistent with practical screening criteria based on cross-sectional areas of building columns and walls. Based on these criteria, 90% of the structures surveyed in Haiti would have been classified as seismically vulnerable before the earthquake. Damage was more frequent in structures with captive columns. A two-tiered screening process is suggested to rapidly assess the vulnerability of scores of poorly built low-rise RC buildings in future earthquakes.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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Seismic Performance of Port de Port-au-Prince during the Haiti Earthquake and Post-Earthquake Restoration of Cargo Throughput

Stuart Werner, M.EERI, Nason McCullough, William Bruin, M.EERI, Alex Augustine, Glenn Rix, M.EERI, Brian Crowder, and Joshua Tomblin

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S387-S410 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3638716

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The Port de Port-au-Prince is the largest seaport in Haiti, and is essential to the country’s economy. The Haiti earthquake severely damaged the Port, which disrupted the transport of cargoes into Haiti that were vital to the country’s emergency response and post-earthquake recovery. Major contributors to this damage were widespread soil liquefaction, the poor performance of batter piles, and the poor pre-earthquake condition of many components of the Port’s waterfront structures. Immediately after the earthquake, a U.S. military task force was deployed to the port to perform emergency repairs needed to reestablish cargo throughput. These repairs restored a significant cargo-throughput capacity at this small but vital seaport within weeks after the earthquake.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Mv	Strong motions and shock waves
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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Transition from Response to Recovery: A Knowledge Commons to Support Decision Making Following the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Louise K. Comfort, M.EERI, Brian McAdoo, Patricia Sweeney, Sam Stebbins, Michael D. Siciliano, Leonard J. Huggins, Ted Serrant, Steve Scheinert, Jared Augenstein, and Nicole Krenitsky

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S411-S430 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3633342

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The transition between disaster response operations and sustainable recovery represents a critical stage in rebuilding communities following disaster. We document this transition process following the 12 January 2010 earthquake in Haiti through direct field observation, review of documents and official situation reports, as well as interviews with key managers from organizations engaged in disaster operations in Haiti. Without an effective transition to recovery, disaster-stricken communities risk escalating failures in performance of key technical functions that underlie the provision of basic services in health, housing, education, commercial activity, and environmental restoration essential to building a resilient society. The interactions among social, environmental and technical systems are rarely tracked systematically, but are central to the longer-term economic, social, and technical development of a disaster-resilient community. We propose developing a “knowledge commons” infrastructure—multilingual, interdisciplinary, and interjurisdictional—to sustain a system-wide learning process as a primary goal for the reconstruction of Haiti.

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89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters
91.30.Px	Earthquakes
89.65.Lm	Urban planning and construction

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Community-Scale Damage, Disruption, and Early Recovery in the 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Arleen Hill, M.EERI, John Bevington, M.EERI, Rachel Davidson, M.EERI, Stephanie Chang, M.EERI, Ronald Eguchi, M.EERI, Beverley Adams, M.EERI, Susan Brink, M.EERI, Dilnoor Panjwani, Robin Mills, Sarah Pyatt, Matthew Honey, and Paul Amyx

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S431-S446 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3624964

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This study seeks to assess the levels of community-scale building damage and socioeconomic disruption following the January 2010 Haiti earthquake. Damage and disruption were analyzed for pre-event, post-event, and early recovery time periods in seven Haitian communities—three inside and four outside Port-au-Prince. Damage datasets from the Global Earth Observation-Catastrophe Assessment Network (GEO-CAN) postdisaster assessment were combined with analyses of fine-resolution satellite and aerial imagery to quantify building damage and recovery status, and were verified with field data. Disruption was assessed using community-level data obtained from interviews conducted in May 2010 with community leaders, NGOs, and government utility providers. The data pertain to 11 sectors, including shelter, livelihoods, and social networks. The findings document severe disruption and uneven restoration four months after the earthquake. Disruption showed little correlation with physical damage. Observations suggest that the impacts of the earthquake must be understood in the context of chronic disruption, and many consequences of the earthquake are merely deferred during recovery.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
91.30.Mv	Strong motions and shock waves
89.65.-s	Social and economic systems

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Social Impacts of the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Rebekah Green, M.EERI and Scott Miles, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S447-S462 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3637746

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The 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake resulted in some of the most significant social impacts from an earthquake in recent decades. In early March, an Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) social impacts reconnaissance team documented broad impacts on shelter, livelihood opportunities, and service provision through direct observation, photo documentation, interviews, and a review of other sources. The earthquake left over half of the residential housing in Port-au-Prince heavily damaged; widespread fear that even undamaged structures were unsafe swelled the number of homeless to 1.3 million. The infrastructure damage and significant loss of life within the Haitian government and international aid agencies slowed the early response and reduced the already low levels of basic service provision. Continued research is needed on media portrayal, outcomes of injuries, sheltering decisions, social networks, and learning trajectories for Haiti’s youth, among other areas.

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89.60.Gg	Impact of natural and man-made disasters
91.30.Px	Earthquakes
89.20.Kk	Engineering

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Setting the Stage for Long-Term Recovery in Haiti

Robert B. Olshansky, M.EERI and Harley F. Etienne

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S463-S486 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3633096

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This paper describes the first seven months of long-term recovery activities following the 12 January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. We describe the activities of a broad range of governmental and nongovernmental (NGO) actors, and we identify the organizations and institutions likely to drive the long-term recovery process. Much of the funding from recovery will come via up to $5.3 billion in international donations, which will be directed and monitored by the newly constituted Interim Haitian Reconstruction Commission (IHRC), but much of the work of recovery will be carried out by local and international NGOs. Finally, an important goal of the recovery process will be to improve governance and increase the capacity of the Haitian national government, and this may prove to be the most challenging task of all.

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89.65.-s

Social and economic systems

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Temporary Housing Planning and Early Implementation in the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Liesel Ashley Ritchie and Kathleen Tierney, M.EERI

Earthquake Spectra 27, pp. S487-S507 (2011); doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.3637637

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This paper focuses on decision making and planning, primarily by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), for the provision of temporary housing following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Data were obtained through interviews, observations, and document collection during four field trips to southeastern Haiti and Port-au-Prince between late January and the end of May 2010. Three sets of issues hindered decision making associated with rehousing: assessment, logistics, and governance and coordination—problems that are all too familiar in large-scale disaster settings around the world. Our findings highlight the challenges of decision making and planning during the immediate period following disasters and raise questions about the extent to which guidance on disaster-loss reduction measures is reaching societies and communities that need it most, about why approaches that have been shown to be counterproductive in other disasters continue to persist, and about the applicability of current recovery paradigms, policies, and practices in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake and other similar contexts.

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89.20.Kk	Engineering
89.65.Lm	Urban planning and construction
91.30.Px	Earthquakes

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October 2011

Volume 27, Issue S1, pp. S1-S507

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