simulation: inside the haiti earthquake
For the ‘Inside Disaster Experience’ of the 2010 deadly earthquake in Haiti, I took on the role of ‘Aid Relief Worker.’ I decided against playing the role of ‘survivor’ or ‘journalist’ because I wanted to experience relief challenges through the lens of someone in more of a leadership role. My primary responsibility in this simulation experience was to make sure the relief supplies I had shipped from a port in Miami got quickly and safely into the hands of the neediest Haitians. Upon my arrival by helicopter into Port-au-Prince, I had many decisions to make regarding where I would go after landing.
Would I go to the port to await the shipment of my container of supplies, or do I enter the scene of destruction before me and conduct a hasty needs assessment of the area? As someone who feels safest when given the time and opportunity to consider all options before committing to action, I was forced to make hard decisions very quickly. As in real life when I am compelled to make rushed, hard choices, I followed my gut. In the context of the Haiti disaster experience, I learned that my gut has some learning to do when it comes to distributing supplies to people in a country that has been ravaged by natural disaster.
Entering the disaster scene was overwhelming. With so much urgent relief needed in so many places, I had to prioritize how I spent my time, that is, where I would go once my supplies arrived and who I would consult. I was initially tempted to distribute my supplies to suffering survivors before I had consulted with the UN, who was attempting to coordinate the hundreds of smaller relief organizations, and before I even had a warehouse to unload and organize my materials. Pressure from my sponsors in the US to relay good news and proof in pictures that our organization’s relief and aid was “working” was not a concern of mine. I was able to easily refuse journalists’ appeals to stage aid distribution photographs and remained focused on the big picture goal. With all the eyes of the world on Haiti and the relief efforts, pressure from the media was intense. Self-interest and opportunities for good press were ignored during this experience.
I did give into temptation, however, when I decided to go against my plan and protocols to distribute aid from my truck in an unorganized manner alongside another small NGO. We did not plan ahead enough to ensure the safety of the hundreds of people that broke through poorly planned barricades and trampled other victims in an act of desperation to get supplies from us. In this situation, the neediest people (mothers, and the extremely ill) did not receive supplies at all and their circumstances grew more dangerous. I learned that taking the time for an organized distribution effort is better than relinquishing supplies to a desperate mob. Prioritizing organization and identifying the needs of the most vulnerable are essential. In the end, I joined forces with the highly coordinated relief efforts of the Red Cross. They helped distribute my supplies to the people who needed it most.
Of course, I realize I was not truly ‘inside’ the disaster experience – I was sitting at my laptop in the comfort of my home. Despite the limitations of this experience, it was a worthwhile activity and gave me insight into the decisions, pressures, and intense emotional response I may experience inside a disaster. The harrowing images and video clips of the immense physical destruction and the fear and desperation in the faces of the survivors gave me just a glimpse into this very tragic event.
Would I go to the port to await the shipment of my container of supplies, or do I enter the scene of destruction before me and conduct a hasty needs assessment of the area? As someone who feels safest when given the time and opportunity to consider all options before committing to action, I was forced to make hard decisions very quickly. As in real life when I am compelled to make rushed, hard choices, I followed my gut. In the context of the Haiti disaster experience, I learned that my gut has some learning to do when it comes to distributing supplies to people in a country that has been ravaged by natural disaster.
Entering the disaster scene was overwhelming. With so much urgent relief needed in so many places, I had to prioritize how I spent my time, that is, where I would go once my supplies arrived and who I would consult. I was initially tempted to distribute my supplies to suffering survivors before I had consulted with the UN, who was attempting to coordinate the hundreds of smaller relief organizations, and before I even had a warehouse to unload and organize my materials. Pressure from my sponsors in the US to relay good news and proof in pictures that our organization’s relief and aid was “working” was not a concern of mine. I was able to easily refuse journalists’ appeals to stage aid distribution photographs and remained focused on the big picture goal. With all the eyes of the world on Haiti and the relief efforts, pressure from the media was intense. Self-interest and opportunities for good press were ignored during this experience.
I did give into temptation, however, when I decided to go against my plan and protocols to distribute aid from my truck in an unorganized manner alongside another small NGO. We did not plan ahead enough to ensure the safety of the hundreds of people that broke through poorly planned barricades and trampled other victims in an act of desperation to get supplies from us. In this situation, the neediest people (mothers, and the extremely ill) did not receive supplies at all and their circumstances grew more dangerous. I learned that taking the time for an organized distribution effort is better than relinquishing supplies to a desperate mob. Prioritizing organization and identifying the needs of the most vulnerable are essential. In the end, I joined forces with the highly coordinated relief efforts of the Red Cross. They helped distribute my supplies to the people who needed it most.
Of course, I realize I was not truly ‘inside’ the disaster experience – I was sitting at my laptop in the comfort of my home. Despite the limitations of this experience, it was a worthwhile activity and gave me insight into the decisions, pressures, and intense emotional response I may experience inside a disaster. The harrowing images and video clips of the immense physical destruction and the fear and desperation in the faces of the survivors gave me just a glimpse into this very tragic event.