Dr. Kit Miyamoto's Field Journals
  • Home
  • Kit’s Journals
    • Afghanistan
    • China
    • Ecuador
    • Haiti
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Nepal
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • Ukraine
    • Guest Journals
  • About Miyamoto
    • Miyamoto International
    • Miyamoto Relief

Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 2

November 29, 2012November 13, 2018,
  • Prev
  • Next
This post is part of a series called Miyamoto in Haiti
Show More Posts
  • The 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Part 1
  • The 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Part 2
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: The Presidential Palace, A Fractured Haitian Icon
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Damage Assessment of the Japanese Embassy
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: The Well-Oiled Relief Machine Rolling Through Haiti
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Inside a Heavily Damaged Building
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Visiting The Citadel
  • Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 1
  • Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 2
  • Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 3
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: A Morning and Afternoon of Hopeful Rebuilding
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: School Rebuilding and Construction Continues
  • Trente mois en Haïti, 1eme partie
  • Trente mois en Haïti, 2eme partie
  • Trente mois en Haïti, 3eme partie
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Visiting a Remote School Construction Site Near Cap-Haïtien
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Self-Sustaining Relief
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Love it or Hate it? Love it!
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Lycee de Cite Soleil Rehabilitation Project
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: The Hopeful Road to Recovery
  • A Day in the Haiti Disaster Zone
  • Kidnappers & Disaster
  • A Disaster Week in Haiti

The team of engineers assessed each house and marked it with a green, yellow or red tag. Teams also recorded detailed structural and social information using PDAs. We not only performed engineering tasks, but we also became counselors and social workers. People were beginning to return home to safe, green-tagged houses. The temporary camp population had decreased to 700,000 in late 2010. We figured that the amount of debris that existed in the country, based on the database that we had developed, was 8.9 million cubic meters (314 million cubic feet). Based on this estimate, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and USAID came up with a plan to take care of this debris.

We identified over 120,000 yellow-tagged houses with limited damage. They were still dangerous but relatively easy to repair. The now famous Yellow House Repair Program originated here. During this program’s initial assessment we identified more than 80,000 collapsed or heavily damaged buildings. These were red-tagged, a warning not to enter. A number of in-country NGOs started working to remove these buildings. This program won a Project of the Year award from UNOPS and the World Bank. This was not a job for everyone. We were often spread out in unstable and dangerous communities, but sometimes even notorious gang members helped to guide the engineers. Often, a disaster brings out the best in people. Haiti was no exception.

The next step was reconstruction. In early 2011, we were still struggling to cope with over 700,000 homeless, and a staggering amount of debris and half-collapsed buildings. No one knew where to start. We finally came up with the idea of “picking low-hanging fruit” as a reconstruction strategy. The target was 120,000 yellow-tagged houses. They were damaged, but repairable. Funded by the PADF and USAID OFDA, we formulated a repair program, much like we had done for the damage assessment program. Our experience of working in impoverished Haitian communities for the past 12 months was key. By this time, I had started to understand what made people tick. I became, by necessity, an amateur cultural anthropologist of sorts.

First we developed an MTPTC-approved guideline for seismic damage repair per international standards. Based on that guideline, we trained a team of master masons and engineering managers. We even flew in an American master mason from San Diego to train the first batch of mason trainers. Train the trainers—that was the best way to build a solid foundation. Over 6,000 masons and 600 engineers were eventually trained that way.

Next, we selected small commercial contractors to work on this program. This was unusual in Haiti. Usually, NGOs hired masons and laborers directly, or brought in international volunteers, skipping the commercial sector. Then, guest what? Good-intentioned, well-funded, non-profit organizations were directly competing against local businesses. That is how Haiti lost many of its industries, including its agricultural businesses. It was not easy to compete against “free rice.” This standard practice unintentionally had created a society that could not sustain itself without continual foreign aid. The commercial sector was destroyed and jobs were hard to find. Unemployment was over 80 percent. We wanted to do something different: invest in and train small Haitian commercial contractors and help them grow.

Kit Miyamoto
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google Plus
  • Pinterest

Post navigation

   Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 1
Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 3   

You may also like

Destroyed but Not Conquered

Continue Reading

Against All Odds: Afghanistan Earthquake Relief Day 2

Continue Reading

ABOUT

Kit Miyamoto

As CEO of the structural engineering company Miyamoto International, Kit is dedicated to making the world a better place. In Kit's words: our responsibility as engineers is to make buildings safer by sharing what we know around the world. Join his journey to make the world a better, safer place.

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • January 2022
  • October 2021
  • August 2017
  • April 2016
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • August 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • April 2013
  • February 2013
  • November 2012
  • March 2011
  • March 2010
  • January 2010
  • May 2008

miyamoto_international

🌍 We're committed to making a difference in Nor 🌍 We're committed to making a difference in Northern Syria. Miyamoto's team of engineers has conducted a field mission to assess the post-earthquake WASH and shelter situation in Northwest Syria's most affected areas. 

Field Report: Syrian #EarthquakeResponse

✅ Assessed #earthquake damage and #relief efforts in #Syria. Here's a summary:

✅ Arrived in #Kilis at 8:30 AM, had a security briefing.

✅ Crossed Bab Al Salam border, conducted team checks every 60 mins.

✅ Explored camps, solar water tower, and chlorination station.

✅ Assessed WASH facilities in Jindaris and a non-functional Cholera Treatment Center in Afin.

✅ Completed the journey before sundown, crossing the border.

📍 Key Locations and Assessment:

✅ Bab Al Salam: Minimal damage, high need, high displaced population. Fairly safe.

✅ Azaz: Minimal damage, medium need, medium/high displaced population. Fairly safe.

✅ Afrin: Medium damage, medium need, medium/high displaced population. Fairly safe.

✅ Jindaris: High damage, high need, high displaced population. Fairly safe.

💡 Insights from Site Visits:

➡️ Bab Al Salam camps overcrowded, strain on systems.

➡️ Solar water tower needs expansion to meet demand.

➡️ Azaz site includes textile factory, discounted clothes shop, and pharmacy/dispensary.

➡️ Jindaris witnessed significant damage, pre/post-earthquake camps, and a water source for distribution.

Security and Safety Considerations:

➡️ One-day visits advised with trusted partners during daylight.

➡️ Roads damaged and chaotic, prioritize safety.

🗒️ Recommendations and Future Collaboration:

✳️ Collaborate with AFAD, IHH, and ACU for ongoing efforts.

✳️ Share report and solar concept note with FCDO for funding.

✳️ Plan NWS trip with ACU for health facility assessments.

✳️ Utilize ARC123 software for future assessments.

Together, let's rebuild these communities. Stay tuned for updates! Read more at the link in bio.
Congratulations, Kyiv, on this special day! We app Congratulations, Kyiv, on this special day! We applaud the unwavering spirit of the city and its incredible people. Through nights of adversity and countless challenges, you continue to work, rescue, and volunteer, demonstrating boundless strength and dedication. Together, you hold Ukraine close to your hearts, showcasing the unbreakable spirit of both the people and the city itself. Here's to the unbreakable people in the unbreakable city of Kyiv! 🇺🇦Miyamoto Relief Ukraine
AI technology is transforming our world in countle AI technology is transforming our world in countless ways, making our lives more intelligent, efficient, and connected. But did you know that #AI also has the power to revolutionize disaster risk reduction (#DRR)?

With faster and more accurate responses to #disasters, AI can significantly impact DRR efforts, ultimately saving lives and reducing economic losses. A collaborative approach is critical as we identify and manage risks, bringing together various stakeholders to enhance preparedness, #response, and #recovery.

Read more at the link in our bio.

#ArtificialIntelligence #DisasterRiskReduction #AIforGood
📢 Exciting Announcement! 🌍 Miyamoto Protek, 📢 Exciting Announcement! 🌍

Miyamoto Protek, a Turkish-based globally powered firm, is building back a more resilient #Türkiye.

Born from our collaboration with Protek-Yapi ECC, a Turkish engineering and urban planning consultancy firm with offices in Ankara and Osmaniye, extensive experience in Sustainable and Resilient Cities and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.

Our mission is to lead the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Turkey's affected regions. Bringing expertise and dedication to deliver world-class disaster-risk reduction and reconstruction expertise in Türkiye. 

Our goal is a fast and intelligent recovery with a lasting impact. By implementing innovative engineering solutions and sustainable practices, we build a more resilient future that can withstand today's and tomorrow's challenges.

Check out our ongoing projects:

🏡 Rapid and Sustainable Shelter Solutions: Partnered with the government, NGOs, and others, we have accelerated the safe return home of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and facilitated the early recovery of affected communities. Our USAID/BHA-funded project in #Osmaniye, Türkiye, focuses on reoccupying repairable houses and apartments, getting the most significant number of people undercover and communities back on track for rapid recovery.

💪 Catholic Relief Services Turkey #Earthquake Response: Partnering with CRS, we aim to provide rapid and sustainable emergency shelter solutions in #Gaziantep, Türkiye. Our project benefits 50,000 direct and 100,000 indirect beneficiaries, including households and communities affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck southeastern Türkiye.

Together, let's build back better and stronger! 🤝🏗️ Join us in creating a resilient future for Türkiye. Link in bio.

#MiyamotoProtek #BuildingBackBetter #ResilientTürkiye #ReconstructionEfforts #SustainableFuture #Miyamoto #EarthquakeResponse #USAID #CatholicReliefServices
We're thrilled to share our latest success story i We're thrilled to share our latest success story in El Salvador! Our @USAID funded team has trained 30 individuals in Search and Rescue techniques for collapsed structures, complementing the country's earthquake preparations.

We had the honor of welcoming esteemed guests, including the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attachét, Deputy SCO Chief, and the Director of BHA for El Salvador, to witness the final exercise. And our very own LAC Director, Dr. Roberto Brito, volunteered to play the patient role and provided excellent feedback based on his extensive experience and training.

We're so proud of our team's dedication and hard work in advancing disaster resilience. Join us in congratulating them! #MiyamotoInternational #SearchAndRescue #ElSalvador #DisasterResilience
2/2 🔨 Original post from @miyamotorelief: The 2 2/2 🔨 Original post from @miyamotorelief: The 2021 earthquake in Haiti dealt a significant blow to #FONTEN. The center was left in ruins, disrupting patient care and overwhelming the remaining #health centers. Rebuilding the FONTEN Center has become a top priority, as it plays a critical role in supporting tens of thousands of earthquake-affected individuals in Haiti.

🤝 Join us in making a lasting impact on the lives of those in need. Your generous donation will help #rebuild and restore #hope and empower individuals and communities to rise above adversity. Every dollar contributed goes directly to @fonten.haiti and Consuelo Alzamora’s tireless efforts in improving the lives of those affected by #disability and #disaster in Haiti. Let’s continue their inspiring mission of hope, healing, and #empowerment together.

❣️Click the link in our bio to donate now and be a part of the change. #HaitiEarthquake #RebuildingHope #MakeADifference #FontenHaiti #MiyamotoRelief
Load More... Follow on Instagram

© Miyamoto International. All Rights Reserved.