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Yesterday’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, is a stark reminder of how fragile our society is in the wake of a natural disaster. According to a report by the AP’s Jonathan Katz, the earthquake was the most powerful to hit the island nation since 1770 and the capital of Port-au-Prince was all but leveled, including the National Palace and headquarters of U.N. Peacekeepers.
The immediate concern is locating survivors in the mountains of rubble, a monumental task considering the sheer scope of damage in a nation with virtually no building codes. A disaster of this magnitude will require an indefinite recovery process made more difficult by destroyed communication lines and inadequate infrastructure.
Despite the tragedy occurring within the last 24 hours, recovery efforts have already started, many spurned by the internet and social web. The Red Cross working with the White House posted the following update within 12 hours of the disaster and other agencies were quick to follow.
- @Whitehouse (official Twitter feed) – Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to @RedCross relief efforts in #Haiti. Learn more: http://bit.ly/6KiRtE
- Oxfam – A UK based charity with a long-term presence in Haiti set up a splash page where donors can easily contribute to the recovery. Oxfam spokesperson Louis Belanger can also be heard on the site explaining how resources will be moved from the regional headquarters in Panama and the difficulties of recovery. Future reports will be posted from within Haiti’s borders.
- UNICEF – Despite damage to its offices in Haiti, the agency is poised to deliver resources, also posting a splash page for making donations and highlighting the plight of children in the country, “Four out of every ten children live in homes with mud floors or in severely overcrowded conditions, with more than five people living in each room. With an estimated 46% of the population currently under the age of 18, the struggle of Haitian children reverberates throughout society, and one that is bound to have serious consequences far into the future.”
- @NYTimes – Set up a Twitter list of people in the country who are providing real-time photos and reports from the streets
The U.S. is certainly better equipped to handle devastation, but if Hurricane Katrina taught us anything, it’s that you can never fully prepare for a natural disaster. An event lasting hours or even minutes can forever alter how and where people live.
As independent insurance agents, you owe it to customers to be as prepared as possible with the right communications tools should such an event occur. Having a crisis plan and understanding what needs to be done when faced with a massive influx of claims will allow you to be a supportive presence for customers looking for some kind of stability. An updated agency website, blog or even twitter feed can be vital for communication and recovery efforts.
Besides making yourself available to customers, what else goes into an insurance crisis plan?
IMHQ highly encourages you to donate to the Red Cross or other recovery efforts. Even $10 makes a difference.
