It is great to hear that US Army Corps of Engineers has already committed several of their experts to the Haiti relief and support effort. There is a tremendous need for your expertize and this need is far from short-term – once the emergency phase is over there will be a need to focus on long-term rehabilitation, city planning and reconstruction. A lot of this work will require consultation with the national government and local communities which in turn requires knowledge of the context, language and understanding the domestic political environment. My recommendation to the US Army Corps of Engineers would be to engage Haitian-American engineers in this process – there are a number of Haitian-born engineers who were trained in the US and Canada who now reside here in the US (largely in Miami, New York City and Boston areas). I would urge you to reach out to the Mayors and City Councils of these cities and ask them to extend a paid leave to city employees of Haitian descent who have the critical skills (city planning, engineering, etc) and have the language skills and cultural know-how that would be an incredible asset to your efforts. Many Haitians living in the US have a strong desire to go and help their country (and many are already making their way there) but for a great number of them there are family members, children and mortgages to worry about and thus they are unable to take indefinite unpaid leave. If you were able to tap into this valuable human resource and advocate for such a “Haitian Civil Corps” that would be an excellent contribution to this massive aid effort that has began. Thank you again for your commitment to reach out and help Haiti.

I am a Construction Engineer with 40 years of experience in Civil work,dirt work,concrete,surveying and layout of large projects(ie $850 Million gas processing plant for Exxon in Wyoming), contract management, eleven years with Montana Highway Dept., Engineering Division building primary,secondary and interstate highways (I-15 and I-80),also monitoring construction for contractor compliance.. I would like to work in Haiti.

I lived in Port au Prince at one time. My father-in-law, Albert Bronnimann, a Swiss engineer who lived in Haiti for many years, built several factories there that appear to still be standing in 01/16/10 satellite photos. Fiticosa is on the Delmas Route across from a small airstrip. Usman is another factory also belonging to the Brandt family of Haiti. Inside the factory which has be mothballed since 1986, are two huge generators which powered the denim factory. My father in law stockpiled parts of these generators which should be in the buildings around the factory. These generators, if still intact, could power a large area. I hope this may help. Thank you.

I am a registered landscape architect here in South Carolina. Business is slow here and I am more than willing to give my time to the corps to help those in need. Please let me know if there is a need for boots on the ground, because I have a great pair of boots.

I have designed a quick and efficient way to clear debris in order to rescue victims of the earthquake in Haiti in the most rapid manner in an effort to save lives. I want to submit two diagrams that are very simple to follow. It is a very simple way to liberate victims under large piles of medium to small debris with little effort and little man power.

LTG van, we can help with modular buildings – where do we plug in? WHich District is in the lead?

Essayons,

LTC Mike Duffy, USA ret.
Comark

(PS – the spam protection Q was a bit rough)

Containers for haiti, an interim and safe solution for the next 5 years.

Instead of rebuilding houses which is going to take years, it would be preferrable to send them box containers for housing. Due to the economic crisis, there are hundred of thounsands units 20′ and 40′ available on the market. Old box containers could be bought as low as 200 usd , and easily modified to fix doors and windows. They are safe, seismic and water resistant. Container ships are also underutilized if not going to be scrapped. The port quays are destroyed, but it would be easy to discharge the containers with barges equiped with cranes.

Also Tank Containers are available world wide to deliver fuel, gas, water and vegetable oil.

Refrigerated containers could be set as storage facilities for food.

The cyclone season starts in june, we have 5 months put them safe.

We are an engineering firm based in suburban Chicago that has been working in Haiti for over 4 years doing hydrogeologic mapping, drilling wells, providing boundary survey services, site civil engineering and have designed/built a 12KM roadway. We have a drill rig up and running there now and are sending two more hydrogeologists down there on Thursday to replace the two we just pulled out. How can we support your efforts to turn things around quicker. Who can we talk to on the fground there?

In reply to Jean luc…containers sound like a great idea. They are fixed up and used in Mexico also for housing.

I’m a public affairs officer with USACE, and moderator of this blog. I want to thank each of you for your encouraging words and your willingness to support us at this time. However, right now our mission is very limited – in support to SOUTHCOM – and any future missions in Haiti are still unknown. If our role does grow, and we have a need to hire contractors, we will certainly let you know through the normal contracting routes.

I am very pleased to hear that USACE is already committed in assisting to the rebuilding of Haiti. Now, with respect to Jean Luc’s comments I would add that someone needs to contact FEMA and query them on the latest status relative to those trailer homes that were purchased during the Katrina disaster. I won’t be surprised if some were still available.

I am an EIT wanting to volunteer my time to help the corps in Haiti. I have 12 years of heavy equipment and tractor trailer experience that would prove useful to the recovery and stabilization efforts. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to efforts in Haiti.

I am a Haitian-American civil engineering graduate from Boston with experience in street layout and field inspection. I am more than willing to go and assist in Haiti as well as work for any private contractors who are Already working there if needed. Please keep me updated or contact me if my services can be useful for you.

I am a civil engineer and land surveyor interested in working in Haiti. I have experience in design and construction of water, waste water collection and treatment, structures, site development, and other projects.

I am a project/mechanical engineer. I worked disaster relief after Hurricane Ike at the UTMB hospital. There I helped place a temporary (still operating) modular compounding pharmacy. I have experience with mobile medical shelters, power, hvac and equipment necessities. I would like to volunteer my time with the corp in this or any other engineering capacity deemed fit.
Linked in contact info;

I am a special Inspector with Kleinfelder inc. and am presently in college
working on my Bachelors in geo tech. I specialize in reinforced concrete
structures, as well as soil, post tensioned concrete, structural masonry, and a little structural steel. I have been working in construction materials testing for the past three years. I would like to aid in the relief effort if there is any need of personnel in my feild. And I think the idea of cargo containers and job trailors would be the most economical and most effecient way of housing all those who are left homeless.
I am also certified by the ICC for reinforced concrete, PTI level 1 and 2, ACI level 1, and also have alot of experiance in D.O.T. road work as well. If you need a hand I have two to offer.

Has anyone considered styrofoam dome homes for the rebuilding of Haiti? They are strong against high wind (hurricanes)and hold up well against earthquakes. They are lightweight, so they would not be deadly in the event of a collapse. Simple units are 25′ diameter, and offer approximately 12′ ceilings. They can be build at the rate of 3 per day per building crew. They can be stuccoed, shingled, and easily altered to enlarge or elongate. They are inexpensive, simple and lightweight to easily transport, long-lastiing, and easily assembled. Haitians could easily be trained to assist in rebuilding neighborhoods. It sure would beat the trailers that were, and still are being used for housing in the New Orleans area.

Has anyone considered polystyrene dome homes for the rebuilding of Haiti? They are strong against high wind (hurricanes)and hold up well against earthquakes. They are lightweight, so they would not be deadly in the event of a collapse. Simple units are 25′ diameter, and offer approximately 12′ ceilings. They can be build at the rate of 3 per day per 3 man building crew. They can be stuccoed, shingled, and easily altered to enlarge or elongate. They are inexpensive, simple and lightweight to easily transport, long-lastiing, and easily assembled. Haitians could easily be trained to assist in rebuilding neighborhoods. It sure would beat the trailers that were, and still are being used for housing in the New Orleans area.

ONS21 Security Services is a security support services company that provides critical support services to aid in disaster relief and crisis situations. When serious disasters and crises arise, ONS21 is available for rapid response with a highly experienced staff. In addition, ONS21 Security Services can provide extended security support services after initial response for assistance in reconstruction efforts. Our company has experience in providing single-site and multi-site emergency & disaster response services. Below is a list of disaster relief and crisis services provided by ONS21 Security Services:

· Disaster Security Support Services
· Security Advisors
· Armed Guard Services
· Convoy Security
· Site Camps Encampments
· PSD

In addition to the above disaster relief services provided, ONS21 has both French and Portuguese speaking staff for assistance with the Haitian earthquake disaster.

Lastly, ONS21 can provide fully relocatable living and/or office containers. The containers are equipped with the NATO Hook Lift System for easy movement. Each unit is fully self-contained. For the living quarters, they can be equipped with kitchens, heads and showers. The heads are composting toilets which eliminate hazardous waste and helps with a carbon neutral rating. Additionally, for higher security risks, they can come armored up to B7. If more information is desired, we can send a PowerPoint presentation with more detailed information.

Since thousands of Haitians are vacating the city, well water purification/generator technicians need to establish local watering holes, instead of relying on water shipped in. The technicians, need to camp out and secure the areas at the wellhead. If any company needs the above, drop me an email. I lived,and worked in south florida for 20+ years, hooking up rural well water customers out on ranches, farms, houses, pump houses, under extreme conditions. You need guys that can install,pumps,purification system,plumb it, run power,set up shop. Adapt, until things start moving over there. Once you have the water and power at these stations, you can start building stuff for the locals. It’s called starting an infrastructure. Put the people to work. Gotta be better than living in Porte Prince. Start building little towns. Stay away from mudslides, and huricane, storm surge. Plan.

Our Company ESP has capabilities of interconnection and design for Medium Voltage Bus Duct Systems utilizing our manufacturer DAQO Bus Duct Systems in Jiangsu China for supply of all medium voltage switchgear, bus duct, for rebuilding any infrastructure. Our prime supplier the bus duct for the Three Gorges Project in China, and equipment in an emergency environment.

As General Contractors here in South Florida, we know the environment in Haiti is similar to what we have at home. How can I offer assistance, and training to this country in need? Know know what it takes to put up modulars, pads, and any kind of stable ground to build on. Contact me through my website. Prayers go to Haitians, Rescue Workers, and Families.

i am electrical and industrial

DoD Contractor N: 903064150
Dear Sir/Madam
We would like to introduce ourselves as a company specialized in:
- Manufacturing and supplying all kinds of metal,especially prefabricated houses and hangars .
- Contracting and building renovation and general suppliers
- we are also specialized in guard tower, fencing systems(weld mech),concertina barbed taps,instomats,security system,surveillance system,smoke detector,tents,hesco barriers,alaska,texas,jersey barriers,and others as well as hospital equipments and machines (beds,closets lockers for hospitals…. etc .
- we have a department specialized in manufacturing and syppliying all kinds of wood,especially doors,office furniture,kitchens,bedrooms,and chairs.
- Also we have a departement specialized in sewage and water treatment plant system.
We have been in the international market for more than 20 years:
we import and export from and to many different Arab and European
countries.

I am a Haitian-American licensed mechanical engineer with over 25 years of facilities/energy/HVACR engineering background who lives in New York City. I believe that my experience will be needed to help rebuild Haiti’s infrastructure relative to facilities, HVACR, energy and waste/wastewater distribution systems. I speak Creole fluently and understand French. Please let me know about future opportunities with the Haiti reconstruction efforts.

I represent a small company that has unused capacity to manufacture shelter for 100k persons a month. We are designed military airlift/drop deployable. Shelter for 1k persons deployable per C-130. Eight shelters fit per 463L pallet. We are rated able to withstand catagory one hurricanes and are earthquake resistant.

I am a DIMA soldier assigned to USACE Tranatlanta Div, winchester,VA
currently on active duty assigned to JTF/EN Guantanamo, Bay GTMO, as aengineer liason. My expertises are Road Construction,and sewage. I would be more than glad to assist in anyway the Corps could use my skills in Haiti,Respectful MSG wWreco Reese.

@HEBERT Jean-Luc

Thank you for your idea. I have moved your idea to use containers for temporary housing to Congressman Peter Visclosky of the First District in Indiana. This idea could mean a new industry of building these containers, for Walmart Chinese Ships to take them to Haiti, fully loaded with your goods that you mentioned, as well as reinforcing steel from Northwest Indiana and Concrete ingredients, to help rebuild government buildings first and then schools and homes. Sanitary Sewer lines and Primary Treatment Facilities also need to be reconstructed.

Herb, thanks for thinking this way. I hope that this devastation can be minimized by the entire world pitching in and not wasting resources.

Geoff Grant
8240 Beech Avenue
Munster, Indiana

Engineer with 15 years trades and 10 years engineering (cmt).
Containers sound great. Simple with multiple applications. What about mobile crusher and concrete plants. Reuse debris with additional cement and aggregate. Water/sewage/structures will take years but best to recycle whats there. Also train the Haitian’s to do this on their own. Previous experience implies that first world will “forget” when the “news” cycle ends. Special quake. Would be hard to design for the next one in 1/50/500? years. Difficult question as to rebuilding design standards. Where does one go to work/help? Net is full of useless leads.

It’s good to see the Corps is involved in the relief effort. There’s a lot of talented people who have much needed skills to help out.

@HEBERT Jean-Luc

Shipping containers are a neat idea, except that in a hot climate HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH HEAT FROM INSOLATION?

I think sand bag constrction might be a better idea since only sand bags need to be shipped.

Kay 2.0 is a grassroots effort to develop Haiti next generation sustainable housing urban template designed for an extreme environment. Higher hurricane frequency and seismic requirements require new approaches and adapted construction methods.

WANTED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS TO VOLUNTEER A BIT OF THEIR TIME TO ASSIST DESIGN DEVELOPEMENT JOIN THE DESIGN TEAM at

We are a specialized sub contractor who manufactures/builds Precast concrete module buildings in remote and resource limited regions of the world and have beeen for the last 25 years. RW core competency is moving our factory process to the job location, purchasing local ready mix, hiring local labor and bringing in our management staff to build housing, hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, etc. Our custom designs can withstand CAT 5 and Seismic D structural loads and can be design either single story or up to nine stories high. Our system is perfect for the reconstruction efforts in Haiti and offer the high quality/durability of reinforced concrete, fast efficent construction schedules w/module construction, and can employ the local labor with our system. Please let us know how we can help.

Did u hear the latest ?fly planes to seed parks in Port au Prince with corn
might work
things grow easy in Haiti, lots of rain and warm weather,
one tractor could plow a field of parks then call in the c130s
three months later theres corn for the taking
but what about weeds and insects?
someone has to tend the corn.
according to Jimi who grew up on a farm in Indianapolis
“they should do like the Native Americans did. plant corn, beans, and squash all together.
there are plants that ward off insects.
marigolds, for instance.
the beans produce nitrogen which feeds the corn.
the corn shades the beans so they don’t burn up.
beans and squash keep the ground covered so it doesn’t dry up.
it would work. Native Americans did it for 1000s of years.”

ALERT: HAS ANYONE DONE The MATH? Haiti countdown to hurricane season–flying debris warning
To my knowledge, other than a solid shuttered building, sand bag shelters seem like the best solution for hurricane shelter in Port au Prince right now.
Each person requires 50sqft 8 diameter circle A = π r2=one small roll=250yards of sandbagtube x1,000000
the sandbag tubes roll are 300$ for 250yrds…
the USACE have better estimates and methods with sandbags. can anyone post the link to USACE documentation to proper sandbag shelter construction?

Town of Grand-Goave, Haiti 31 miles (50KM) from Port-Au-Prince will be the next Katrina if we don’t act now. Raining season is beginning. Can you help avoid another disaster, please, please, begging you please. A lac or body of water was formed from the earth movement from the recent earthquake and will inevitably rise above its levy. The town has an estimated population of 110,000 and 90% distroyed by the earthquake. The US Army on the ground doesn’t know what to do. I received this report from Yves Gattereau a Canadian citizen working for Oxfam-Quebec.

Steve, my proposal for containers is an interim building for the next 5 to 15 years. But if you know Haiti, you know that people are building their home with bad concrete materials and also with no basic sense of building techniques. And even if they had the knowledge, there is an extra cost for seismic buildings that they can’t afford.

Insulation is a problem in Haiti and not in Dominican Republic because of the deforestation and due to the concentration of the population in small places. Anyway, will you keep this people under tents with the huricane season coming ?

I AM LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ENGINEERING FIELD TO HELP WITH THE REBUILDING OF HAITI.

I HAVE A STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DEGREE FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND HAVE WORKED FOR CONSULTING ENGINEERS IN THE CAPACITY OF REINFORCING STEEL AND STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN DETAILER IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR 10 YEARS UNTIL 1989.

I AM A US CITIZEN AND HAVE WORKED IN THE REINFORCING STEEL INDUSTRY IN THE US SINCE 1990 SERVICING FABRICATORS, SUPPLIERS AND PLACERS. I HAVE ALSO DONE EXTENSIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION DESPUTE RESOLUTIONS FOR A PROMINENT CONTRACTOR IN SAN DIEGO.
I HAVE MY OWN ENGINEERING PRACTICE SINCE 2003, ESTIMATING AND DETAILING PROJECTS IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
I SPECIALIZE IN LARGER SEISMIC DESIGNS ON THE WEST COAST FROM SAN DIEGO TO CANADA.

DRAWINGS AND ESTIMATES CAN BE PRODUCED IN IMPERIAL OR METRIC MEASUREMENT ON MICROSTATION CAD FORMATS WITH ASA REBAR APPLICATIONS.
DRAWINGS CAN BE FORWARDED IN DWG, DXF, PLT OR PDF FORMATS. ALL DRAWINGS, DETAILS AND CORRESPONDENCE CAN BE COMMUTED ELECTRONICALLY ANYWERE IN THE WORLD.
I WILL CONSIDER A POST ABROAD IF NECESSARY.

SINCERELY,
MARK CERFF

My father in law, Albert Bronnimann, who superized the building of Fiticosa and other factories in Port au Prince, once told me that the Haitians used limestone from the mountains and then building sand from the beaches. The salt in the beach sand weakened the cement and thus caused many buildings to fall during the large earthquake recently. Any cement building should be done with pure sand, and not beach sand. He must have known what he was talking about because Fiticosa and the other factories that he built are still standing even after the earhtquakes.

We have a friend we support in Cap-Haitian that leads a 300+ member congregation. His church has multiple cracks and the people are fearful to have services inside. Is there any structural engineers in the area that could advise him as to the condition of the church? His name is Alixte Roland Laguerre and his cell phone is 011 509 3457 0938. To contact me, my email is . Thank you in advance for any help.

@Jean Fontaine

Hello -

We are bidding on a UN project in Haiti and have need for
a number or engineers. Could you please send your resume if
you are still interested in working in Haiti?

Thank you,

Bruce

I have been travelled to Haiti many times. My saddest concerns are that many people concentrate in Port-au- prince area to assist. But the root of the problem is not in Port-au-Prince. I have visited a place in the Northern part of Haiti, and I have witnessed so many death animals due to water shortage. The animals are dying of twisty and hunger. I was very sad because of discomfort, weakness pain cause by lack of food for those innocent animals. We tend to assist the people of Haiti but we forget the animal. They are suffering even more than the people in Haiti because the people could travel greater distance for food and water but the animal cannot freely travel to a greater distance. Please if anyone could assist drilling a couple wells to save the life of those animals please feel free to contact me through my E mail.

Thank you and God bless your heart.