2010 HAITI EARTHQUAKE....

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake. Its epicentre was near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time (21:53 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.[3][4] By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded.[5] As of Feb. 12, an estimated three million people were affected by the quake;[6] the Haitian Government reports that between 217,000 and 230,000 people had been identified as dead, an estimated 300,000 injured, and an estimated 1,000,000 homeless. The death toll is expected to rise.[7][8] They also estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged.[9]

The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and other settlements in the region. Many notable landmark buildings were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential Palace, the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, and the main jail. Among those killed were Archbishop of Port-au-Prince Joseph Serge Miot,[10] and opposition leader Micha Gaillard.[11][12] The headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), located in the capital, collapsed, killing many, including the Mission's Chief, Hédi Annabi.[13][14]

Many countries responded to appeals for humanitarian aid, pledging funds and dispatching rescue and medical teams, engineers and support personnel. Communication systems, air, land, and sea transport facilities, hospitals, and electrical networks had been damaged by the earthquake, which hampered rescue and aid efforts; confusion over who was in charge, air traffic congestion, and problems with prioritisation of flights further complicated early relief work. Port-au-Prince's morgues were quickly overwhelmed; tens of thousands of bodies were buried in mass graves.[15] As rescues tailed off, supplies, medical care and sanitation became priorities. Delays in aid distribution led to angry appeals from aid workers and survivors, and some looting and sporadic violence were observed.

On 22 January the United Nations noted that the emergency phase of the relief operation was drawing to a close, and on the following day the Haitian government officially called off the search for survivors.

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5 TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR EARTHQUAKE

Earthquakes are natural disasters that we should learn to live with, not in fear of. Learning how to prepare for an earthquake not only makes you a bit safer, it ensures that those around you are a bit safer as well.


Earthquake Preparing Tips

1. Practice earthquake drills with your family.

2. Check if your insurance covers earthquake damage.

3. Take classes in First Aid and CPR.

4. Have two designated places your family can meet after the earthquake.

5. Make an earthquake kit with basic food, shelter and water.

THE ENDANGERED SPECIE: WALRUS

In fact, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently reported that 131 walruses, mostly calves and yearlings, were trampled to death in Alaska by other walruses. This is a clear and urgent signal that the sea ice is nowhere to be found.

The walrus typically spends much of its time resting on sea ice. But, as global warming melts its icy habitat, it has no place else to go but to land. It’s not uncommon for walruses to gather on shore in the fall months, but they are currently gathering in alarmingly large numbers and arriving much earlier than in previous years.

On land, the situation continues to be deadly, particularly for young pups that could easily be crushed. The more than 3,500 animals crowded together in one area in Alaska could lead to additional stampedes and deaths. What’s more, these walruses face nutritional and physical stress since they have to work twice as hard to obtain food. Instead of diving off the ice down to the sea floor where they feed, they now have to swim long distances from the shore to and from their feeding grounds.

TIPS FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL CAT.

Hey! Most cats prefer to spend winter indoors, but be cautious if your cat likes being outside. Don't let him out in bitterly cold weather, and be sure he has a warm place to go if he spends a lot of time outdoors. Cats left outdoors have a particular hazard; they often crawl into a warm car engine to get warm. When that engine is next started up, the cat can be seriously injured or killed by the fan blade or belt. It's much safer to keep your cat indoors in winter. I’m sure you don’t want your cat killed in this cold weather? So, be cautious For more pet information, visit Petcare.