Haiti: scope of destruction and logistical difficulties (graphics-heavy)

[shireen]

For those of you wondering why aid is not getting out any faster, check out these two excellent graphics from the NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/world/americas/17haiti.html

[pinto]

1. Thanks for the post.

The graphics help put some of the reports in perspective.

[MoJoWorkin]

2. This is a much better accounting than what we are fed on tv.

The reporters on the ground are only seeing a small part of what is going on, and what is needed. They are NOT getting the big picture. This shows the horrendous scale of the problems faced by all those trying to help.

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. Still, this map has big picture items like "looters stole bags of rice" from supermart

It's a beautiful map, no question about it.

Still, maps like this often contain inaccuracies designed as information.

NYT and Wash Post's similar maps of New Orleans after Katrina were carefully tailored to tell a "narrative". If you actually look at the map and know something about the area in question you can often see what they're NOT saying. For instance, after Katrina, NYT and WaPo blatantly LIED and claimed the Lower 9th Ward was the lowest part of the city with the highest water levels "and the poorest and least easy to reclaim". Their map clearly showed (and experience confirmed) the area farthest below sea level was the wealthiest part of the city, which was the area first targeted for reclamation while the Lower 9th Ward was sealed off and people prevented from returning. Apologies for going on about Katrina, I'm more familiar with that.

But yes, WaPo and NYT graphics sometimes lie with statistics by distracting you with shiny graphics and beautiful off the shelf street maps.

They lied in 2000 about how Bush would have won the election if all the votes had been counted, again with a shiny graphic showing the opposite of what the captions stated.

I'm not saying this map isn't very useful, i'm saying it was cobbled together from sat imagery and suppositions and stuff people told them on the phone.

It'll be more relevant to see actual up to date satellite imagery.

[shireen]

11. if you can find supplemental information,, please post it

the more we know about the ground truth, the better.

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Interesting how they're starting their relief efforts in the less damaged wealthy areas

Carrefour, one of the poorest districts, hardest hit so naturally totally unexplored so far.

Petionville and the expat hotels, first in line for rescue efforts.

They claim an area containing one of the largest shantytowns is one of the wealthiest and access
to most plumbing -- no doubt because the shantytown residents are not included in the relevant statistics.

Also, apparently the densely developed DOWNTOWN area has the least access to indoor plumbing,
a seemingly odd figure that needs explaining as it might shed some light on the heavy devastation there?

[lunatica]

4. Thank you for posting this n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Very helpful...many thanks.

[snot]

6. Great post. But surely we can invent a safe way to air-drop water?

How about we first drop a big, empty, soft rubber tank. Then we drop one end of a soft rubber hose that fits the opening into the tank. When people on the ground have the hose attached to the tank, open a valve in a tank full of water in the 'copter above and let the water run down through the hose.

[shireen]

10. it's frustrating, but first responders have to follow procedures for their own safety

These first responders are already putting their lives at risk just by being there.

Making drops from helicopters have their own hazards. A rope on the ground could become caught in debris or people may attempt to climb up to the helicopter. Flying close to the ground could be dangerous to the crew. And no one knows how crowds will respond to the drops, will it cause riots as people fight over the supplies causing more injury and structural instability?

We're thousands of miles away, trying to figure out alternate ways to get supplies to people. But we lack an understanding of the ground truth and technological limitations. For now, we must have confidence that the teams being deployed there are doing everything possible to safely get aid to the people. When this is all over, I am sure these teams will conduct an exhaustive review of their actions, and it will result in new ideas on how to improve their procedures.

The current operation is probably as good as it gets given the currently-established protocols. These plans are made based on assumptions about typical disaster conditions. But Hailti is the worst of the perfect storm scenarios. It's not surprising that relief is slow getting to some locations.

But i feel your frustration ... you're saying this because you desperately want to help. It's a reaction to feeling so helpless.

[snot]

12. Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

[blondeatlast]

7. I can only rec this once, but will kick it often. Thanks. nt

[malaise]

9. Excellent

Rec

[peacetalksforall]

13. I forgive the NYT slightly for their unqualified support for Republicans and their tendency to

try to harm Democrats because these graphics are amazing.

I highly recomment reading the article and studying the graphs.

It's obvious that there are three horrible problems here involving infrastructure:

Blocked roads.
No workable seaport.
Blocked roads even if there was a seaport.
Limited airport capabilities because of volume and immense cargo loads.
Blocked roads even if the airport was big enough.
Inability to allow aircraft to sit for one, two, three days - the aircraft is needed.
Blocked roads.

By sea, land, or air - the roads need help so that the people get help.

The mega size aircraft can't land on some ships.
There may not be enough barges.

But, please think about this.

The U.S., France, Canada, the IMF, and the World Bank officially took over Haiti when they conducted a planned, organized coup d'tat against a duly elected President, Aristede.

They have had half a decade to improve the country's infrastructure and get emergency procedures in place if they were not there yet under Aristede.

If anyone knows what the U.S., France, Canada, IMF, World Bank did since the coup that gave them Haiti - please provide the detail.

Meanwhile, if it comes up - notice how the NYT wrote and writes about the coup and the subsequent massacres.

[pinto]

14. Kick

:kick: