Performance of Structures in the January 2010 M_W 7.0 Haiti Earthquake

The earthquake that shook the island of Hispaniola on January 12, 2010 devastated Haiti. The resulting damage was widespread due to the construction methods, poor material quality and lack of rigorous design procedures. Post-event reconnaissance has brought to light deficiencies in all these areas. Construction, especially residential, is typically completed by the building owner who may or may not have the necessary skills to design or build safe structures. Very few structures are designed by an engineering professional. The two most common construction materials are masonry block and reinforced concrete. Building response to the ground shaking is demonstrated through damage surveys in downtown Port-au-Prince and Leogane and specific case studies generated through reconnaissance efforts which highlight the infrastructure problems which led to the deadly structural performance.