What Structural Engineers See For Haitis Recovery

From Denny: Already the structural engineers are visiting Haiti's capitol city, Port-au-Prince, to assess how many buildings need to be completely demolished. They are also taking a look at how many buildings could be retro-fitted and rebuilt. This is a nation that did not use simple rebar stabilization in their brick, stone and concrete doorways and windows where the structure would be the weakest. It is standard construction of the most inexpensive homes in America and is not a costly addition or fix.

The problem with Haiti's building codes is that they are minimal and usually unenforced. New and stricter codes are being called for as cleanup from the earthquake begins and thoughts turn to rebuilding the country literally from the ground up.

Indonesia's devastation from the 2006 tsunami at the town of Banda Aceh has proven an awesome example of recovery five years later. Take a look at how Haiti could follow in their footsteps:

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Now that three weeks have passed since the earthquake it is a bit easier to take a look at this news footage of an amateur video taken at the time of the earthquake. Gives us an acute illustration as to how much of a job structural engineers have to do in this country.

This is from a survivor's video as the earthquake began, continued at HOPE Orphanage, then the bedlam outside in the aftermath. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed at that orphanage. Look at all the tremendous dust in the air; it must have felt like they were choking on it.



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Summary: Surviviors Process as They Rebuild Lives

From Denny: More than two weeks after the earthquake, with stiff competition for basic resources of food, water and shelter, the people began to fan out into the countryside, stressing their resources.

That's what happened in my town in south Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans. There was a mass exodus from there and they came in like locusts into Baton Rouge, emptying the grocery stores, clogging the roads with bumper to bumper traffic, increasing the traffic accidents 500% and then they emptied our gas stations.

They left the locals with absolutely nothing for weeks while we waited to be resupplied. Which is why I always keep up to a month's supply of food pantry items in case of this very kind of emergency. It isn't what's going on in your town you have to worry about; it's what's going on in a larger metro area that may trigger a mass exodus coming your way. The countryside and smaller towns in Haiti are now receiving their desperate hungry locusts devouring what meager resources they had.

Two weeks after the earthquake:

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Day 12:

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Still a dearth of accurate or any information available to survivors or others outside Haiti:

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It took three weeks after the earthquake before my cousin, who was visiting Haiti to donate her time as a music teacher, was finally able to get out a message to family and friends that she was fine. She is living in one of those tent cities somewhere around Port-au-Prince where resources are limited. She was lucky to only experience bruises and minor lacerations as she fled the music school where she was giving a concert with the kids. Since she has recovered from some heavy leg bruises and a concussion she has pitched in to help the local relief efforts.


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One Man in Haiti Helping Those Who Fall Between the Cracks of Big Relief Efforts

From Denny: One man watched the news in America and decided he had to do something in Haiti, so he hopped on a plane and has been helping one person at a time as he roams the damaged city.

On Twitter he is known as "onehaitian." I even tweeted him in the hope he may visit Jacmel to tell me if my female American cousin is still alive as she has been reported from other musician friends. Haven't heard from him yet. He's probably slammed with the need in front of his face every minute. Take a look at this great story:

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Medical Horrors Earthquake Survivors Face

From Denny: From an American doctor's point of view here's the latest on the desperate medical situation in Port au Prince, Haiti. It's difficult for doctors, working without proper operating rooms, equipment and anesthesia. Instead, they have resorted to hardware store hacksaws they have sterilized with vodka and are operating in makeshift tents in the dirt streets full of dust and rubble. Even when successful in the amputation many will die for lack of follow up medical care. It's a desperate situation all around.

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Rescue workers and medical staffs are doing what they can for Haitians who are so seriously injured.

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What survivors are facing from crush injuries is the reality is there are over 70 required amputations a day now. The grim situation is that now a week has passed and the injured have received little or no medical attention until now. During that time the wounds became so infected that gangrene set in. When that happens the wounded area begins to die and if not amputated the poison can reach the blood stream and then kill the person. Tough decisions all around.

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