Unger-Water Powers Haitian Government Temporary Facilities after Devastating Earthquake
When a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, it was by all measures a ‘mega disaster’. The island incurred massive casualties and damage—the loss of life and number of injured or homeless was innumerable.
The capital city of Port-au-Prince was hit especially hard and its infrastructure was devastated. Surviving government members began to manage the aftermath in unbearable heat and humidity without electrical power or other essential utilities. All four power plants serving the city were off line and the earthquake had tossed 56-ton transformers from their bases.
Joint effort establishes temporary power and facilities
Haiti’s government buildings, including Ministry sites, the Presidential Palace, and Parliament were all damaged or destroyed by the earthquake. To continue governing and make effective decisions during recovery and relief efforts, Haiti required temporary facilities with electricity, structural reliability, and comfort to keep the government operational.
Unger-Water Power Solutions arrived to design and manage the electrical requirements, while Proteus On-Demand Facilities responded to construct a turn-key temporary office for the Haitian government. Working in tandem, the two companies had the structure operational within 10 days. Unger provided all equipment needed to power the air conditioning and other required electrical needs, which included lighting and communications.
“Initially we shipped generators to Haiti, but as utility power substations were repaired, permanent power was utilized in the temporary structures,” said Jeff Unger, founder and development director, Unger-Water Power Solutions, LLC. “We supported Haiti’s power requirements for approximately six months, ensuring its facilities ran efficiently and comfortably. Today, all government operations are back to normal operations.”
Unger supports CDC health efforts in Haiti
Several years after the earthquake devastated Haiti, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) required permanent modular facilities to provide a lab and other structures to combat diseases and malaria that became prevalent following the earthquake. Unger worked with Proteus again to construct the buildings, and provide electrical and air conditioning services in the tropical environment.
“The work we completed in Haiti for the CDC is still operational today,” said Patrick Janssens, Chief Operating Officer, Proteus On-Demand Facilities. “When we work with Unger-Water on these types of projects, we can be certain that professionalism and reliability are standard. Their team helps us build synergy to get the project done efficiently—whether the conditions include unbearable heat or sub-zero climates.”