Armenia Colombia Earthquake effects

The 6. 2 on the moment magnitude scale catastrophe largely affected the Colombian Coffee Growers Axis with an approximated 8,000 coffee farms completely or partially destroyed. Moreover, an estimated 13,000 structures of several kinds of enterprises and industries were damaged and went temporarily or permanently out of service. Many people were affected with about 1000 casualties arising from the main shock. The number of reportedly missing persons as a result of the earthquake is estimated at 3,900. Large coffee farms were destroyed, with coffee farming being one of the most profound economic activities, many were thus rendered poor. The loss of more than 1500 lives coupled with the gross and minor injuries sustained also drew the interest and focus on this predicament. It brought numerous questions on the level of preparedness.

Some studies have been done in this area. However, most of them have failed to underscore in the best ways and approaches to be taken in the management of this disaster that has claimed several lives, destroyed homes, caused injuries, interfered with economic activities among many other otherwise recognized as vital matters for proper consideration. The study is aimed at responding to questions relating to the solution of the Armenian Earthquake and the institution of an Emergency Operations Centre as one of the main policies aimed at controlling and solving fully the earthquake’s diverse effects on the various aspects of the economy. The main research questions are: a) To what extent shall the Emergency Operation Centre help mitigate the effects of the earthquake? b) What is the cost benefit analysis of the project towards solving the problem? c) What is the society’s perception towards this project? d) Will this project address the main concern that have always arisen from the disaster such as high-level preparation on paper but low preparation on the ground? e) Economic impact of the establishment of the Emergency Operation Centre to the Colombian government.

Research objectives 1. General objective The general objective of the study is to establish the best long term methods and ways of solving the Armenia earthquake. 2 Specific objectives of the study. Many will earn employment in the institutions, some will get aid to remedy their situation especially for those who lost some property. The national government will also immensely benefit from the study as it provides the best remedy to a situation that has consumed a lot resources and also that it will provide a blue print for any successive government for use in planning purposes in terms of disaster management. The donor funds to be channeled towards the solution of the earthquake problem shall be very much important in easing the burden off the government.

CHAPTER TWO 2. 0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2. This loss of both labor and potentil labor proved very detrimental to the government which had to train other labor to boost productivity. 2 Development of emergency operations center The January 25, 1999 earthquake affected 35 cities, caused more than 900 casualties and injured at least 4000. It has been estimated that about 200,000 people were left without shelter (El Colombiano, Feb. Preliminary estimates indicate that reconstruction of the infrastructure of the cities affected will cost more than 500 million dollars. (El Tiempo, Jan. The Calarcá hospital suffered partial collapse From this Armenian experience, the existence of a mere inexperienced Disaster Committee may be insufficient in dealing with such immense types of catastrophe. This calls for the establishment and institutionalization of a body of well trained and very equipped personnel within the various sectors of the economy and from diverse institutions.

These members will form an emergency operation center which will be equipped with highly skilled personnel who will remedy the situation that has been in the past of a committee members on the oblivion of an impending yet catastrophic disaster. 3 Conceptual Framework/Theoretical framework. Figure 1 below, shows the conceptual framework against which this study will be based. 1 Research Designs The study adopted a mixed methods research design. This is an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative (categories and themes, relationships) and quantitative (frequencies, percentages and mean scores) forms. It involves philosophical assumptions, the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the mixing of both approaches in a study. 5Thus, it is more than simply collecting and analyzing both kinds of data; it also involves the use of both approaches in tandem so that the overall strength of a study is greater than either qualitative or quantitative research (Creswell and Plano-Clark, 2007).

The survey also adopted a descriptive survey design in which associations between variables were established. service records, fact sheet data, maps and geological records. 3 Target Population The study was carried out in the Armenia region in Colombia, with a target population of approximately 292008 people. Moreover, the population density is calculated at 2100/km2. 4 Sampling Methods Sample Size The sample size was determined using the formula recommended by Nassiuma (2000) as follows: Where n= Sample size N= Population Cv = Coefficient of variation (take 0. 4) e= Tolerance of desired level of confidence, take 0. Stratification was considered at two levels namely; those affected by the earthquake directly and those not affected. The study revealed more natives of the place a directly affected at 80% as compared to those not affected at 20%.

STRATA % SAMPLE SIZE Directly affected 79. 7 51 Not directly affected 20. 3 13 TOTAL 100 64 It further revealed more numbers of those who did not recover from that trauma from those directly affected as compared to those who recovered at 66% against 34%. 8 Data analysis methods and justification. After data collection, data analysis was done using both quantitative and qualitative techniques to remove irrelevant data. The remaining data was then coded, classified and reconciled to derive the relevance. The data collected was analyzed mainly by use of quantitative techniques which include; frequencies, percentages, mean scores and standard deviations. Analysis of data was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel spread sheet. It can therefore be inferred that majority of the respondents were between the ages 35-49 years.

Table 5. 2: Ages of Responden Age group. Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 11-18 4 6. 3 50 and above 12 18. 9 The Redd Cross 6 9. 3 The NGOs 4 6. 6 The United Nations Organization 24 37. 1 Local citizens 18 28. 2 Other researchers 5 7. 3 endorsement and refusal of the EOC by the 5 people. 4 Summary From the above results, it is worthy to note that the Armenian Earthquake has had adverse effects to the environment, economy, households among other sectors of the economy. It is also good to see that the general feeling among many is for a long lasting solution that will ensure the greater good of the majority of the Colombians and especially the establishment of the Emergency Operations Centre. This will help mitigate the effects of the Armenian Earthquake while at the same time improving the level of preparedness to manage another disaster in case of an emergence.