Plenary: The 2010 Haiti Earthquake: Impacts and Ongoing Recovery Challenges

Sun. 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Interlocken A/B

Plenary sessions at the 2011 Natural Hazards Workshop focus on earthquakes and earthquake sequences in three different societies, each of which presents distinct challenges. The January 2010 Haiti earthquake was the most devastating natural catastrophe to strike the Western Hemisphere in recorded history. Although the death toll is in dispute, there is no disputing the toll on Haiti's infrastructure, economy, and institutions. In the aftermath, Haiti has coped with cholera outbreaks, flooding, and political violence, further complicating recovery efforts. Haiti's non-recovery from the January 2010 earthquake poses vexing questions about the preexisting conditions that contributed to its catastrophic impacts; funding; decision making; public opinion and support; and the role of the international community in disaster loss reduction, response, and recovery.

Richard Olson, Moderator
Florida International University

Abby Córdova, Panelist
Vanderbilt University

Claude de Ville de Goyet, Panelist
World Health Organization