Earthquake Aftermath in Haiti
Tremors continue, measuring between 4.9 and 5.3, in
the wake of the 7.0 earthquake that struck 15 km (10
miles) south of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 12.
Disaster relief efforts and rescue attempts continue
amid looting and a mounting refugee crisis. Aid flights
from at least half a dozen countries have begun
arriving. Order has yet to be restored, as both the
Haitian government and the United Nations suffered
extensive losses. Haitian President Rene Garcia
Preval stated that the death toll could be between 30-
50,000; Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive estimated
the toll could top 100,000.
Security
On day break Jan. 13, looters began targeting markets
and some hotels in Port-au-Prince; looting continued
throughout the day. It is possible that street gangs in
Port-au-Prince and across the country might become
more organized and mount offensives against aid
stations or other weakened targets in residential or
commercial zones. This might force aid workers to
stage relief efforts in the Dominican Republic (DR).
Some prisoners may have also escaped. Brazilian
and UN troops have begun to patrol Port-au-Prince.
Looters will likely gain the upper hand over security
forces in many locations until at least Jan. 15.
Transportation
Border openings between the DR and Haiti remain
open, but a growing refugee crisis could put pressure
on the DR to limit cross-border movement. Vehicular
traffic is allowed to pass. The trip from Santo Domingo
to Port-au-Prince will likely take longer than 12 hours.
The Haitian highway network is severely damaged,
with limited passage available from the DR and
across the country. Streets in Port-au-Prince remain
clogged with victims, although some traffic is
circulating on the city's main roadways. Part of the
road to Canape Vert, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, has
collapsed.
Around 1500 Jan. 13, Port-au-Prince's Toussaint
L'Ouverture International Airport (PAP) opened to
receive relief flights. Runways are in operational
condition. Confirmed reports conclude the airport
tower did not collapse. Flight control operations
restored by a US military team remain limited.
International commercial carriers are being rerouted
to origin. Commercial carriers, FedEx and UPS have
temporarily suspended service to Haiti.
Infrastructure
Hospitals, schools and government buildings have all
suffered extensive damage, with some buildings
completely destroyed. The Presidential Palace, World
Bank offices in Petionville and UN offices are all
destroyed. The US Embassy is without power. The
hospital in Petionville is severely damaged; the Hotel
Montana, Christopher Hotel and the Castel Haiti have
also suffered extensive damage. Telecommunication
and power remain offline for the most part. A complete
damage assessment will likely take several days.
Advice
Stay in a secure area with food and water as long as
possible. Remain wary of looters, as well as roaming
street gang members, especially after dark. Consider
using text messages, Skype or other social
networking sites, if available, to send and receive
messages.
Strong aftershocks could continue for several days.
Avoid the disaster zone southwest of Port-au-Prince,
due to severe damage to infrastructure and utilities.
Buildings that appear intact might have incurred
structural damage and could be unsafe, especially
during an aftershock. Follow the guidance of local
authorities and immediately move outside if an
earthquake occurs. Try to avoid high-rise buildings in
Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas if possible.
Motorcycles remain the best method of transport.
iJET resources will be departing for Haiti shortly.
Please call 877-606-IJET (4538) or 443-716-2419 for
assistance if you do not currently have a dedicated
WC24 hotline.
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