Rebuilding Haiti
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County announces response to disastrous earthquake in Haiti
Donate here to support Habitat’s early response efforts.
100% of your donation will go to help rebuild homes in Haiti.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010 - just 10 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Thousands of buildings and homes were destroyed, and the number of those affected is in the millions. Although the full toll of homes severely damaged or destroyed is not yet known, Habitat has begun to respond by addressing immediate relief efforts and long-term shelter solutions for low-income families.
Habitat’s early response to the earthquake is threefold:
- Cleanup
To clear the way for home repair and construction, Habitat will assist in the cleanup by mobilizing people to remove debris and salvage materials that can be recycled in new shelter.
- Shelter kits
Shelter kits include building materials and tools and are designed to help families and neighborhoods make immediate repairs to damaged homes. The kits typically include items such as wall panels, roofing sheets, hurricane straps and a hammer and nails. Habitat also has a cadre of certified masons and carpenters to assist families with immediate repairs.
- Transitional shelter
Small transitional shelters can be built quickly and provide permanent base structures that can be expanded over time. The shelters will meet humanitarian standards of adequate living space and provision of water and sanitation. The structures will also be designed with hurricane- and earthquake-resistant features.