Caribbean nation still suffering after earthquake
HOUGHTON -- Rebuilding efforts are only just beginning after the Haiti earthquake that occurred more than a year ago, which may actually be a good thing.
Before a new, stronger Haiti can rise from the rubble, Michigan Tech Geologist Wayne Pennington says it'll be crucial to integrate risk-reduction techniques into public planning and other policies.
Pennington believes a limited knowledge of Haiti's previous quakes left the country unprepared for last year's disaster.
"In a sense, we want someone with a home in one location to say to the person building a home next to them, you've got to build that to a seismic safety standard appropriate that it'll not fall on my building or my children," said Pennington.
Pennington is part of an international effort by scientists to communicate the potential hazards to people and communities in Haiti.
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