A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Léogâne, Haiti on January 12, 2010, killing over 200,000 people. In response, many groups collaborated to create an Emergency Information System (EIS) that provided critical and lifesaving information to Haitians via SMS, Twitter, and other platforms. A survey found that 92% of EIS recipients found the messages "very useful" and 74% took action based on the information received, with many sharing it with others. The majority of information requested and shared regarded health issues. Feedback showed how the information helped people find assistance and protect their health and safety.

1. 2010
January 12,
7.0
Léogâne
18°30′39″N 72°38′2″W

2. “Information is a vital form of
aid in itself… Disaster-affected
people need information as
much as water, food, medicine,
or shelter.
Information can
save lives, livelihoods and
resources.”
World Disaster Report

3. InSTEDD
tech & field support
SMS, Twitter, etc
+ Thomson Reuters Fdn
program
Curation, Workflow
Emergency
Information
System
Outgoing messages
EIS
Piloted in Indonesia, Dec
2009

8. Many groups collaborated around 4636
Thompson
Reuters
Foundation
EIS
* Many consumers
/ destinations of
EIS information not
shown. (Base
diagram produced
by Ushahidi as part
of their
PR/fundraising
efforts)
Crowdsourced
translation/m
apping/catego
rization
Visualization/
Dissemination

12. 450 EIS recipients interviewed
92%
found EIS messages
„very useful‟
74%
explained how they acted in
some way on EIS
messages
96% with people they knew
said they shared information

13. Feedback
„I did not know what to do in case of sexual
aggression. I used the information to help
another young lady who was raped after the
earthquake.’
‘Many times I had difficulty accessing
information on food and health assistance
for my pregnant wife. I was happy to get
directions on where pregnant women can go
for help.’

16. Health – 68.4%
Shelter – 9.3%
Security – 5.1%
Food – 3.8%
Water and sanitation – 3.3%
Education – 3.3%
Contacting missing people – 3.1%
Job opportunities – 2.9%

17. Feedback
‘Before, I did not care if people urinated near my
tent where I live, but after receiving information
from EIS regarding health hazards, whenever I
saw someone doing it near my tent I’d tell them
what they were doing was putting our health in
danger.’
‘I was looking for ways to help surviving children
cope with earthquake aftershocks. EIS gave me
lots of tips on how to help them.’

18. 2010
January 11
12,
The disaster was set up
and waiting to happen by
Jan 12
What should have Jan 11
looked like?
Can we help Haiti imagine
and build it?