We simply can't let this happen in Haiti anymore. The substandard buildings are completely unacceptable. It might be that we have to 'rethink' Haiti and its potential to modernize. The 'state' of the country is that it lies on a huge fault that is suddenly and severely stricken when the North American Plate moves. If modern architecture can build Condos that will sustain those type of quakes then we should proceed, but, to build even reinforced structures that will need huge amounts of monies in repair the Haitian government cannot afford, we will not have achieved our goals.
There is much to think about and plan for Haiti when it comes to reconstruction. In the immediate future returning as many jobs to them as possible including a working Port and Dock system that can receive supplies will be the best we can achieve.
This is a tragedy beyond simply attempting to save the lives of the Haitian nation, it is a tragedy that will demand the best of USA engineering to accommodate such incredible dynamics. This isn't going to be easy to recover this nation. The work in rebuilding can begin with small structure and ultimately larger structures as we grow more confident of the actions along this fault line and how well new construction will withstand those dynamics.
For now. Simply cleaning up while helping these people stay alive is more than most countries can afford. The USA should be proud of itself in being available to this magnitude.
January 17th, 2010 8:45 AM
Aircraft Carrier Purifies Water; Challenge Is Delivery
ABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON–Help is now headed to Haiti from the nuclear reactor of an aircraft carrier. And it’s not power, it’s water.
The USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered vessel sitting five miles off the coast of Port-au-Prince, has begun producing purified water for the devastated country at the rate of 100,000 to 150,000 gallons a day.
The process involves using excess heat from the vessel’s reactor to evaporate sea water, separating it from the salt. “It’s absolutely pure,” said Captain William McKinley the Carl Vinson’s officer in charge of the reactor.
The Carl Vinson is equipped with four distilling units which each produce 100,000 gallons of water daily, for a total of 400,000 gallons. About three-quarters of that are used in the daily operations of the ship – the rest is considered excess and can be used for relief work.
The challenge remains in getting the water from the vessel to Haiti. “I don’t think it’s a matter of our (production) capacity, it’s a matter of our containers and the ability to transport it,” said Mr. McKinley. The Carl Vinson was beginning Saturday to evaporate the water and put it into large “bladders” to be sent by helicopter into Port-au-Prince.
