This is a phenomenon that is very typical of the Asian cities that are populated in terms of both the people and the buildings. One instance is the incident that befell New Zealand city of Christchurch where many were trapped in rubbles and several and died due to the congested nature of the city (Paul Chapman, 2011)
In the event that there is a natural catastrophe like earthquakes or tsunami, there is a difficulty in evacuating such a population amidst the congested streets, fallen buildings as well as cut off roads. In the event of floods, the raging waters will be channeled through the narrow streets hence increasing the pressure with which it flows through the city and turning a natural catastrophe to a destructive huge humanitarian disaster (The Guardian, 2010)
Deforestation was very severe in the area as colonists and later Haitians were actively engaged in exploiting forests across the country. "Today, while the Dominican Republic still has about 28% of its original tree cover, Haiti only has about 1%" (Lies 41)
In order to gain a better understanding regarding Haiti, the 2010 earthquake, and conditions prior, during, and after the phenomenon, one needs to focus on Haitian history. "For 35 seconds the earth shook and reduced a nation -- already struggling with the historical weight of slavery, underdevelopment, imperialism, and intense internal divisions -- to rubble" (Schuller & Morales 1)
Although it is virtually impossible for someone to actually understand what Haitians went through as the earthquake and its aftershocks occurred, it is only safe to say that these people stared directly into death's eyes as they realized that there was nowhere to run and that only a miracle could have prevented their deaths. "Witnesses are describing the damage as severe and catastrophic" (Taft-Morales)
Mitigation Strategies Earthquake mitigation measures in Japan case Bearing that the phenomena of earthquakes is very common in Japan, there is need therefore to ensure that the people living in this region have enough mitigation measures that will enable the security of human life, and if possible of structures. The earthquake mitigation measures are considered to be the simple skills that can lead to the safety of non-structure components and the items in a house with an aim of saving lives in the event of a disaster (Emergency Food Supply, 2012)
The raising and lowering of plates open up cracks on land. Japan is mountainous, it is covered with thick forests and densely populated areas in the low lands (Walter, 1998, pg 245)
These are the end-products of volcanic activity. The resultant effect of this in agriculture is that weak plants that grow in saline environment are associated with soaring osmotic stress thus causing poisonous ionic effect, less water in soils and nutritional imbalance resulting from interaction of complex nutrients (Petersen et al
The geographical location of northern Japan makes it experience the tsunami calamity regularly because it is not prevented in any way since it is an island. The Japanese themselves have tried to manage this problem by planting a forest that reduces the intensity of the tsunami from worsening the calamity Earthquakes Northern Japan Earthquakes in Northern Japan are as a result of geographical thrust faulting near or on subduction zone interface boundaries between the North America and Pacific plates (Spall, 2009, pg
4). They are mainly caused by the intensity of the tsunamis that moves several areas of Japan to about six miles in and entire of towns; for instance, Minami-Sanriku (Fackler, 2011, pg
Furthermore, water lines and severe weather can also play a role. It has been established that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is an association between dampness and mold in buildings and an increased risk of adverse health effects (Mudarri, 2007)
In some areas, such as the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Los Angeles Basin, simulations have been conducted to estimate damages. Based on the simulation results and available information on the number and distribution of steel buildings, the recommended damage scenario for the "ShakeOut" drill was 5% of the estimated 150 steel moment-frame structures in the 10 -- 30 story range collapsing, 10% red-tagged, 15% with damage serious enough to cause loss of life, and 20% with visible damage requiring building closure (Muto & Krishnan, 2011)
The Mayor of San Francisco at the time, Eugene E. Schmitz, suggested that the Secretary of the Treasury deposit money in national banks to help fund the reconstruction of San Francisco (Bartnett, 1906)
San Francisco Earthquake Massive Earthquake Results in Human Tragedy and Economic Loss" Exploring the Impact of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake San Francisco CA was hit by one of the most devastating earthquakes recognized by man on April 18, 1906. The earthquake affected 430 kilometers of the famous San Andreas fault ranging from northwest of San Juan Bautista to Cape Mendocino (Ellsworth, 1990)
came the message, God save us! The city is doomed!" Clearly the impact on human life and living was severe (America Hurrah, 2004). Communications were inhibited within the city as telephone and communications completely stopped (Hansen, n
. people were stupefied, and meanwhile the fire burned and burned" (Hewitt, 1906)
. everyone one looked rubble stood in the place of buildings and homes (McCann, n
The magnitude of the earthquake was estimated between 7.7 (Wald, Kanamori, Helmberger & Heaton, 1993) and 7
The magnitude of the earthquake was estimated between 7.7 (Wald, Kanamori, Helmberger & Heaton, 1993) and 7
5) for the New York City area occurred in 1884, could be felt as far away as Ohio, Virginia, and Maine, and damage was limited to chimneys and cracked walls (USGS, 2009a). Strong earthquakes rarely happen to this area and those over magnitude 5 only occur about once every hundred years, but in terms of quake activity the area ranks fourth behind Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle (Groves, 2001)