International Preparedness Network

AP Photo/Ramon Espinoza

By Aton Edwards, I.P.N. Executive Director

A heavy rainstorm hit Port-au-Prince hard yesterday.   The homemade tents hastily constructed by the earthquake survivors two months ago were no match for the driving rain.   Thousands were knocked down forcing the terrified people living inside out into rushing flood waters filled with dangerous debris, and human waste from overflowing latrines.

Thankfully, there have been no deaths or serious injuries reported unlike the rainstorm three weeks ago in the Southern Haitian town of Les Cayes where eight people were killed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

AP Photo/Ramon Espinoza

The rapidly approaching rainy season promises to bring much more of the same.

The relocation centers promised by the government two months ago are still not open and over 1 million people are still in a state of limbo as the government continues to broker deals with landowners.  Last Sunday, the  U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the Petitionville Golf Course, an area converted by the 82 Airborne into a earthquake survivor camp and told a group of reporters that “the people here are in danger from floods generated by rain.”  The U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes feels like his hands are tied and says 

“It’s been frustrating to us because we need to have those sites in order to build something … better. Until we can do that people have no incentive to move and, we are running out of time.” 

I feel the same way.  I believe that geodesic domes offer the earthquake survivors the most practical solution for shelter against the rainy season.  They can be built in a few hours, they are relatively inexpensive, easy to transport and highly disaster-resistant.  

With enough support, hundreds could theoretically be built before rainy season, housing tens of thousands.  Please support Pacific Domes and World Shelters  to help them  continue building shelters.  I’m happy to say that the I.P.N. will announce the first Shelter For Haiti NOW! “domeraising” event next week.  Our goal is to spark a large scale dome-building effort.  

The Haitian tragedy is still in progress and it is important for all who are ready to help to stay on call.   

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By Aton Edwards, I.P.N. Executive Director

Another wave of powerful earthquakes rattled buildings and nerves Tuesday morning March 16 in Los Angeles (4.4), Chile (6.7) and on Monday, March 15th in Oregon (4.6).  The Los Angeles quake hit right before dawn and was felt across a wide area of Southern California.  The epicenter was a mile east of Pico Rivera and very close to the area hit by the 5.9 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake that killed eight people and produced over a quarter billion dollars in property damages.  

The earthquake in Chile was more severe.  The 6.7 magnitude struck at 2:21:58 AM in the Bio-Bio Province generating moderate amounts of damage.

The 4.6 quake in Oregon was off of the coast and produced little to no damage.

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By Aton Edwards, I.P.N. Executive Director

Several major aftershocks hit Chile earlier today at 9:39 AM EST during the inauguration ceremonies of Sebastian Pinera, a conservative businessman.  The largest was a 6.9 and triggered a Tsunami alert.  The Chilean congress was evacuated to safe areas immediately after the ceremony. Residents along the coastline sought refuge on higher ground.

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By Aton Edwards, I.P.N. Executive Director

New reports about the early morning earthquake in eastern Turkey state that 51 people have been killed by falling debris. Several homes in six villages across the area have also been destroyed.  Many of the area’s farms sustained a great deal of damage.  Barns collapsed, burying & killing farm animals.

The area that sustained the most damage was the village of Okcular. 19 people were killed.  13 died in Yukari Demirci, a nearby village.  According to Yadin Apaydin, an administrator for the village of Yukari Kanatl  ”Everything has been knocked down, there is not a stone in place” 

Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the people in the area to say out of damaged homes that could be destroyed by aftershocks.  He blamed the brittle mud-brick buildings for the deaths & injuries and assured the people in the area that medical assistance, food, supplies & shelter is being sent, and will arrive soon.  

The Red Crescent is sending tents and blankets.

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By Aton Edwards, I.P.N. Executive Director

At 02:32 GMT on Monday Eastern Turkey was hit with a magnitude 6.0 earthquake that has killed eight people (four children) in tthe village of Okcular in the Elazig province near the town of Karakocan.  A number of injured were taken to area hospitals for medical treatment.  

The Elazig governor, Muammer Erol spoke to representatives of the Anatolia news agency to inform them that a home was buried underneath rubble after the quake ended.  In another nearby village, two children are trapped underneath rubble.

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By Aton Edwards, I.P.N. Executive Director

Another large earthquake has rocked our planet, this time across the Pacific in southern Taiwan.  The 6.4 magnitude rumbler swayed buildings, injured nearly 70, sparked one large fire, disrupted communications and rattled nerves.  It struck in rural Kaohsiung, an area that was recently devastated by a typhoon that killed over 700 people in August of 2009.

Canadian Press Photo

Some of the emergency housing that was constructed for the Typhoon survivors was destroyed by this quake, and the subsequent aftershocks, some topping 5.7 on the Richter scale.

The office of President Ma Ying-jeou has reported that the Taiwanese authorities have  been briefed on all developing situations and are prepared to do whatever they can to help any who are injured or displaced by it.  

Earthquakes are common in Taiwan.  Most are small, but in 1999 a 7.6-magnitude in central Taiwan killed nearly 24oo people and injured thousands more.  

If events worsen, we’ll post info here.  Otherwise, stand by for more Shelter For Haiti NOW! info.

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