Civil Protection Department

Haiti Earthquake: The Head of the Italian Civil Protection Department presents the work experience in Abruzzo to the University of Miami

The forum gave practical information for reconstruction and reduction of vulnerability in Haiti.

A forum will take place at University of Miami campus, Florida on Rebuilding for Resilience: How Science and Engineering Can Inform Haiti’s Reconstruction. The lecure that will be held on March 22 at Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.

Guido Bertolaso – Chief of the Italian Civil Protection Department – was invited by the U.S. State Department guided by Hillary Clinton. Mr. Bertolaso presents the work experience in Abruzzo following April 6 earthquake.

Bertolaso’s speech describes the Italian Government prompt response in the post-emergency reconstruction and risk mitigation through anti-seismic transitional lodgings, known as C.A.S.E Project.

The earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12 represents an unprecedented challenge for scientific communities, NGOs, governments and boards which provide humanitarian aid following a disaster. The same applies to the departments which deal with reconstruction.

The scientific community discusses on the possibility that Port au Prince may be able, in the next few years, to bear the brunt a similar disaster to that of January 12. The risk of a similar disaster needs to be taken into consideration by political parties which decide on how and where to rebuild, especially strategic buildings as hospitals, schools, power plants and government buildings.

The workshop – organized by US State Department and by U.S. National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction, in collaboration with UN agency for disaster reduction UNISDR – deepens the role of science and technology in order to define a strategy for risk reduction in the reconstruction of Haiti.

The UN agency for disaster reduction, UN secretariat, coordinates disaster reduction activities and increases public awareness. The Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction, instead, is part of US National Council of Science and Technology and facilitates national strategies in the same area by adding value to the role of scientific and technological applications.

The Rebuilding for Resilience Forum is open to the public, is moderated by Eric Calais, geologist of Purdue University and by Reggie DesRoches, engineer expert in anti-seismic reconstruction, both at work in order to define a reconstruction path in Haiti.