Haiti: at least…
…it’s warm there. Can you imagine how much worse it would have been if this had occurred in a cold climate during winter? On top of all the other problems, people would be freezing to death.
That’s small comfort, though, considering the scope of the disaster. The United States is in the forefront of relief efforts, but this is a grim and overwhelming task.
Some say that we shall never know and that to the gods we are like the flies that the boys kill on a summer day, and some say, on the contrary, that the very sparrows do not lose a feather that has not been brushed away by the finger of God
””-Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey
[NOTE: Here’s some relief information if you would like to donate.]
[ADDENDUM: Here’s some speculation on why Haiti has been so poor.]
…it’s warm there. Can you imagine how much worse it would have been if this had occurred in a cold climate during winter?
I can’t really think of any populous areas in cold climates that have earthquakes…. Seattle, maybe…. Iceland?
I certainly can’t think of any populous areas in cold climates that have earthquakes and the civil instability of Haiti…. So, fortunately, I don’t think we will ever have to witness your scenario on this planet.
Gray: I agree. But although many cold areas are not especially earthquake-prone, earthquakes are still possible there. For example, Boston.
Gunfire is already starting up in Port au Prince. I imagine there will be no more food or medical aid until the 82nd Airborne and Marines establish security.
But although many cold areas are not especially earthquake-prone, earthquakes are still possible there. For example, Boston.
Yes, that’s a good point. What if 9/11 had happened on 1/12?
I’m not seeing New Englanders engaging in gun battles, looting and hijacking food convoys in spite of what Stephen King writes.
Gray: Anarchy is possible anywhere if people get desperate enough. Of course, in some places it is already chaotic, and it takes less to tip the scale.
Neo, warm temperatures are a mixed blessing. While they lessen the dangers associated with exposure, they also speed decomposition with its attendant horrors. Plus disease and animal vectors probably spread more easily when it’s warm, especially in these conditions. It’s hard to imagine how bad this is going to get. Let’s hope that the 82nd Airborne can get there and establish order quickly.
LAG: yes, I know, but cold can kill even faster. Neither way is good, however.
One of the most tragic recent cathastrophes happend in Armenia – Spitak earthquake. Death toll was 25 000, some villages were completely destroyed, with no survivals (Spitak itself), and a large city, Leninakan, also was flattened. It all happened in winter, there was chilling cold. This was the first large-scale disaster televised in Soviet Union, and people were choked. I remember standing in chilling cold in long line to Armenian consulate in Moscow, we brought here blankets, warm clothes; they gathered all that could alleviate agony of those left without homes, on the open, at very cold highlands of Armenian plato (altitude 3000 m).
Imagine the malaria outbreak after an avalanche in Haiti with all that snow melting…. (kidding, kidding….)
Anarchy is possible anywhere if people get desperate enough. Of course, in some places it is already chaotic, and it takes less to tip the scale.
Indeed. To compound their misery their entire kleptocratic government is comprised of monsters who exploit chaos and anarchy to gain wealth and power.
“Never let a crisis go to waste.”
It all happened in winter, there was chilling cold. This was the first large-scale disaster televised in Soviet Union, and people were choked.
Well…. There you go then.
I’m glad sergey is back! He’s got an incredibly broad knowledge and experience base.
(When I grow up I want to be just like him.)
In contrast to Haity, in Armenia there was strong spirit of society cohesion. All orphans were cared by distant relatives, and in Armenia everybody was a relative to somebody. Moscow Armenian diaspora and many other Armenian centers from dozen countries sent their help too. Since than a strong government agency was built to provide emergence help in case of major disasters, and now this Ministry of Extraordinary Situations is the most effective and respected government bodies in Russia. It responds faster and in more professional manner that everybody else in Europe, sending ready to operate hospitals that can be deployed by air transport, with all specially trained stuff of doctors and nurses.
“Neither way is good, however.”
Very true, but this may be one of those times when some of the living come to envy those who died quickly.
Here we go….
http://wcbstv.com/national/haiti.earthquake.haiti.2.1427143.html
Last night I remembered reading somewhere that no place on Earth is immune from earthquakes. They’re just much rarer in some places. I knew that there was a major earthquake in Charleston, SC during the late 19th century and found this Wikipedia article.
Excerpt:
The last bolded sentence tells me that they really don’t know much about these kinds of faults, or when they might go off.
The first bolded sentence sent me looking for historical records of earthquakes in Pennsylvania, where I live. I found this map, which has data since 1798. There has only been one >5.0 quake in PA history, in the extreme western part of the state. That one was in 1998. My area seems to be safe…so far.
I think I’m still going to check with my insurance agent to see if my homeowner’s policy covers earthquakes. If not, then earthquake insurance should be pretty cheap around here.
The gangs in Port au Prince are now constructing barracades of corpses to stop traffic and charge “tolls”.
There are gunbattles between gangs hiding behind temporary revetments of corpses.
If they where living in a cold climate, I suspect their building standards would have been better.