SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KTIV) -
Saturday marked the anniversary of the devastating seven-point-zero earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As rebuilding continues, a Siouxland company is leading the way to get people back in homes and return children to the classroom.
"You almost can't describe it," said Pat Boeshart, LiteForm Technologies CEO.
Three years after Haiti's capital city was flattened by a deadly earthquake, much of the country remains in shambles.
"Hundreds of thousands of tents. Massive amounts of existing damage, where buildings literally collapsed," recalled Boeshart of his visit last August.
Two-hundred-fifty-thousand homes and 30,000 businesses to be exact. Cracks crawl up the concrete in areas left untouched since the quake.
"There are buildings that have collapsed, and you find that people have gone back in and they open shops and they're selling food," he added.
His South Sioux City, Nebraska company, LiteForm Technologies, was contacted by an Ohio church doing relief work in Haiti two years ago. The company's forms have played an important role in rebuilding.
"The forms are made out of polystyrene," explained Boeshart.
Better known as Styrofoam.
"It's a fascinating project," said Boeshart excitedly.
Durable, economical, and practical, the forms ship flat to Haiti, where crews stack them up like legos and cover them in concrete, securing the structure with steel. In a country prone to natural disasters, Boeshart says the structures are sturdy and cheap. Each 10 x 10 foot home costs $10,000 dollars to build.
"Anywhere in the world people can do this using very inexpensive labor," Boeshart pointed out.
It will get even cheaper in the years to come. Liteform is working with the University of Michigan on a new process that replaces steal poles with metal fibers mixed right into the concrete.
"It's all in the mix," explained Boeshart.
Liteform has been involved in the building efforts around the globe, but this project is one of the most rewarding. LiteForm's technology's are also being used to rebuild schools in Haiti.
"We as a company, with what we do, can help," he said.
Helping rebuild in a country still looking for relief.
