The total cost to rebuild the primary city of Haiti Port-au-Prince is expected to run in the 3 Billion dollar range says a International group which met in Montreal this week.

The rebuilding process is expected to take approximately 10 years which is an extremely long period of time considering the Haitian people who have escaped the City now are jobless and could easily begin the rebuilding immediately.

In the mean time temporary shelter is expected to be built outside the city for about 250,000 displaced residents.

The unfortunate problem with Caribbean island countries is that they need to be made out of concrete to withstand hurricanes. As was the case in Haiti the cost of construction often means rebar steel within the concrete is not used as a cost cutting measure or aggregate stone which increases the weight bearing in structures is not of good quality. Those problems along with ever present salt water can provide for structures that look sound but crumble under even the mildest earthquake.

Residences in Southern California and other places around the world that often have earthquakes in the 4 to 6 range will survive with only light damage because they are made of more flexible wood framing.