Lima-Callao, Peru: Assessing the Next Haiti

Sun. 1:30-3:00 p.m., Interlocken B

The metropolitan area of Lima-Callao, Peru, is at high risk for an earthquake-tsunami catastrophe because of an extreme convergence of people, economic assets, and poor land use planning in an area of high seismic activity. In addition to the direct impacts, a Lima-Callao catastrophe would likely cripple Peru's national economy. More than 10 million people and half the national economy, including the national capital, airport, and principal port, are vulnerable. Local experts will discuss the offshore tectonics and the likely tsunami warning time; the historic earthquake-tsunami combinations that have affected the area and the resulting loss patterns; the current human and economic assets exposed to the combination hazard; the vulnerability of the built environment with particular attention to the lack of building standards and enforcement, and comparing current land use to the historic loss patterns; and the resulting risk and its likely increase into the 21st century. This session highlights activities done as part of a U.S. Agency for International Development-funded project to build disaster risk reduction communities of practice in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Richard Olson, Moderator
Florida International University

Sherry Johnson, Panelist
Florida International University

Juan Pablo Sarmiento, Panelist
Florida International University

Hansjürgen Meyer, Panelist
Sismológico del SurOccidente

Jose Sato, Panelist
PREDES—Centro de Estudios y Prevencion de Desastres

Organizers: Juan Pablo Sarmiento, Florida International University and Richard Olson, Florida International University