1. Earthquake Hazard in the Caribbean Eric Calais UNDP and Purdue University

2. Whose Fault?

3. Hispaniola is “squeezed” at a constant, inexorable, speed of 2 cm per year This motion puts the whole islandunder pressure – earthquakes release it As long as plates will move, there will be earthquakes Lesson #1: since plate motion is inexorable, seismic hazard is inexorable

4. Population at Risk for Natural Hazards 11.3 M 2.7 M 0.3 M 16.5 M 3.9 M 2.0 M 1.1 M 25 M 42 M 3.0 M 4.0 M 5.4 M 6.8 M 6.6 M Total = 130 M Source: CIA Factbook

5. Seismic Research Unit The University of the West Indies St. Augustine Trinidad Tel 868 662 4659 Fax 868 663 9293 e-mail sruuwi@tstt.net.tt Caribbean earthquakes The instrumental Period This slide shows earthquakes since 1964. Note that although there is far greater detail, the general pattern is the same

7. Frankel, A.et al., Documentation for Initial Seismic Hazard Maps for Haiti, USGS Open- File Report 2010. Includes GPS and some fault information. Range of above map 2010 OAS Caribbean Disaster Management Project, map similar to Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP) 1999. Based on recent seismicity = 33 % g = 3 % g 2001 http://www.oas.org/CDMP/document/seismap/ Ground shaking

8. Jamaica Spectral Hazard Maps

9. Compilation R. Bilham (U. Colorado), figure A. Freed (Purdue)