Environmental Studies, PHS 100
OD 1-37
Aug 12, 2014
Human society and the natural environment have become
increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards, such as earthquakes, hurricanes,
droughts, and flooding. These recent natural
hazards around the world have raised awareness of our vulnerability, challenged
our scientific understanding, and questioned our ability to predict and prepare
for such events. As a society we need to continue to strive to be more
conscious of the resources we are using and taking from our planet that could
be causing such devastating events.
One
such that I did not experience but was a part of was the 2010 Haitian
earthquake. This particular earthquake was a catastrophic 7.0 that took place
in the town of Léogâne west of the Haitian capitol of Port-au-Prince. Not only
was the main quake a 7.0 but, fifty two aftershocks of a 4.5 or greater were
also recorded. Over one hundred thousand died and a quarter of a million homes
or more were destroyed. Poverty was already wide spread due to several factors,
the earthquake only added more. Many countries responded to Haitian appeals for
aid. The United States responded by sending supplies and military personnel to
help relieve air traffic congestion. I worked hand in hand with these
controllers coordinating intelligence and efforts in order to help relief
efforts and get aircraft carrying much needed supplies to those in need. At a
peak of 600 flights per day these controllers were able to take the rate of
planes being diverted down to three, possibly saving ten of thousands of
lives. The super carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived
at maximum possible
speedon 15 January with 600,000 emergency
food rations, 100,000 ten-liter water containers, and an enhanced wing of 19
helicopters; 130,000 liters of drinking water were transferred to shore on the
first day. The US Navy listed its resources in the area as "17 ships, 48 helicopters and 12
fixed-wing aircraft" in addition to 10,000 sailors and Marines. The Navy had
conducted 336 air deliveries, delivered 32,400 US gallons of water, 532,440
bottles of water, 111,082 meals and 9,000 lb of medical supplies. UN and United States
formalized the coordination of relief efforts by signing an agreement giving
the US responsibility for the ports, airports and roads, and making the UN and
Haitian authorities responsible for law and order.
Though
I was not personally affected I was able to see the devastation and damage that
the earthquake had caused through pictures and reports sent back by military
air crews. One has to wonder if something within our society may have helped
push this earthquake into reality. Did offshore drilling upset the balance
under the sea floor? The effect could have come from an unbalance hundreds of
miles away or more. This is where the understanding of our environment comes
into play. A better understanding could change the way we operate in finding
resources. Because we do not know exactly how some of our processes of
acquiring resources effects our environment we need to strive to create better
ways to sustain our lives and how we operate.
Resources:
"PAGER – M 7.0 – HAITI REGION" United States Geological Survey, 12 January
2010
Lin, Rong-Gong; Allen, Sam (26 February 2011). "New
Zealand quake raises questions about L.A. buildings".Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 27
February 2011
Columbia Journalism Review, "Two Years Later, Haitian Earthquake Death Toll in
Dispute", 20 January 2012
Medicine, Conflict and Survival Vol. 26, Issue 4, 2010, Mortality, crime and access to basic needs
before and after the Haiti earthquake
"USGS
Magnitude 7.0 – HAITI REGION".Archived from the original on
15 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
"As Haiti mourns,
quake survivor found in rubble". New York Daily Times. 24 January 2010.
Retrieved 1 February 2011.
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