Disaster Response is Often Determined by Preparedness Plans

Which is why we work so tirelessly to educate and inform nations and citizens across the globe, highlighting the importance of comprehensive disaster preparedness plans and initiatives. In fact, the need for preparedness plans on a personal level is almost unanimously acknowledged, taking shape as our daily agendas, wall calendars, and task lists. 

These micro-versions of preparedness plans enable us to look ahead, consider our needs, and pivot when unexpected events arise. They minimize opportunities for error and allow us to reflect on success (or failure) at the end of each day, week, or month. In fact, if nobody kept track of their schedule, we might all find life to be difficult to manage. 

Recognizing the need for thorough preparedness plans in every nation, we must consider that just as they are crucial to our personal day-to-day lives, they are an exponentially more critical need on a global scale. 

As we observe response efforts in the wake of various disasters, it’s often clear where nations benefited from more comprehensive response plans, and where others suffered. Keep in mind that while comparing the outcomes of two well-known earthquake events, our goal is to inform, educate, and learn from these outcomes, not to place blame or point fingers. By learning from the results of others, we can strengthen the preparedness efforts of nations across the globe, resulting in less loss in the wake of disaster.

Devastating Earthquakes of 2010

A little over a decade ago, the world watched in horror as January and February brought back-to-back disasters in Haiti and Chile, respectively. Occurring just 6 weeks apart, these massive quakes impacted communities and infrastructure, putting preparedness plans to the test and stretching the limits of these nations’ response capabilities. But there’s a reason most people only recall the first of these high-powered quakes…

Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Image via Flickr user: United Nations Development Programme, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Haiti | January 12, 2010

When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti’s capital, it was immediately clear that the devastation and impact would be nearly insurmountable. As a hub for large communities of vulnerable populations, Port Au Prince’s resulting damage would displace 1.6 million residents, injure at least 300,000, and kill more than 230,000. While these numbers are almost unfathomable, it’s important to take a closer look at what preparedness measures were in place, what response efforts were made in an attempt to minimize these numbers, and what could’ve been done to prepare and potentially prevent some of this damage and loss. By doing so, we can contribute to a more prepared approach in the future. 

According to this independent review of response efforts to the January 2010 earthquake, one of the primary reasons this event was so catastrophic was due to a lack of capacity and resources by the Government of Haiti (GOH). In fact, as one of the world’s poorest countries, studies like this point to a significant lack of adherence to building codes and regulation enforcement as the culprits contributing to the collapse of government buildings and homes across the area.

Makeshift tent shelters in Port-au-Prince. Image via Flickr user: United Nations Photo / Marco Dormino, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Water distribution by Brazilian peacekeepers. Image via Flickr user: United Nations Photo / Marco Dormino, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Additionally, despite nearly 900 organizations rushing in to assist in the wake of the Haiti earthquake, very few were able to effectively provide aid due to a lack of organization surrounding response efforts. According to this 2010 article from Wired, Haiti’s coordination efforts were scarce, resulting in confusion among responders and an inability to delegate assistance efforts. 

But beyond the GOH’s inability to allocate sufficient resources towards prevention efforts like infrastructure reinforcements or the coordination of response organizations, some of Haiti’s risk comes purely from unavoidable circumstances, like location. From a geographical standpoint, Haiti sits vulnerably between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates, resulting in an increased risk of earthquakes and resulting tsunamis. And while this location can’t be avoided, it can be acknowledged and addressed.

Knowing these vulnerabilities, how can Haiti better prepare for disaster in the future? To get a better idea, we can observe the impact of the February 2010 earthquake in Chile. 

Boat washed ashore by tsunami following earthquake. Image via Flickr user: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid / Peter Burgess, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Chile | February 27, 2010

While many of us were still focused on relief efforts in Haiti, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the coast of central Chile, resulting in a terrifying three minutes of intense shaking. And since the world had just seen the devastating impact of a 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, many prepared to grapple with similarly shocking death toll numbers all over again. 

But as days passed and the damage in Chile was assessed, the world quickly realized that despite the magnitude of Chile’s earthquake, the damage done was incomparable to that of Haiti. Chile’s casualties included 525 lives lost, and another 25 citizens missing, a shockingly different set of numbers compared to Haiti’s loss, despite nearly 80% of Chile’s population being impacted by the quake. 

By looking at highlights from the response timeline immediately following the February 2010 earthquake, we can recognize some the strengths of Chile’s preparedness plan put into action:

• Within a few hours following the quake, Chilean government deployed helicopters to deliver relief supplies to the affected area and a state of emergency was declared
• Within two days, Chile requested aid in the form of troops, medical support and equipment, civil engineering support, and rescue teams
• By March 2nd, more than 5,000 emergency shelters had been distributed by the Chilean government
• By March 3rd, troops had secured loot-prone areas to prevent dangerous activity in relevant areas
• By March 4th, aid began arriving in Chile including supplies, tents, blankets, generators, water purifiers, and more
  • Experts from across the globe flocked to Chile to provide insight, support, and answers throughout response efforts

It’s also worth noting that financial aid was quick to arrive in Chile, with nations supporting response efforts through multi-million-dollar bids almost immediately following the quake.

So, what allowed Chile to respond swiftly and effectively in the wake of such a powerful earthquake? Well-researched, well-funded preparedness and response plans certainly helped.  

What can we learn from both Haiti and Chile? 

Enough to inform prevention plans and reduce the impact of future earthquakes across the globe. In fact, both events allow us to observe what works, and what doesn’t. After analyzing the response efforts from both countries, we’re left with a few noteworthy considerations: 

• Natural disasters don’t discriminate. They have the power to impact countries of all sizes, wealthy or poor, supported or not. And since disaster doesn’t discriminate, neither should preparedness or aid. While no two preparedness plans will be the same, all nations deserve access to comprehensive planning resources and effective response support. 
• Preparedness informs response. While these things are often thought about as separate entities, Prometheus puts them both at the heart of our mission, recognizing that through effective preparedness, we can generate effective response efforts. 
• Preventative aid can be provided. Now more than ever, we see a real need to support less wealthy countries and nations to prepare themselves for disaster. This is a global humanities issue. How can we leverage existing resources to help poor nations invest in and gain access to proper preparedness measures? Doing so can help prevent needless loss of life. 

By keeping disasters like the 2010 earthquakes in mind, the Prometheus team continues to approach preparedness from all angles, recognizing that no two nations are created – or supported – equally. By acknowledging these differences, we can create more accurate, relevant response plans that address each nation’s specific needs and circumstances. Setting nations up for success is just one big step towards minimizing the impact that these natural disasters have on communities across the globe.