After I looked at the Google Earth layer of a post-quake satellite image for a while, looking for evidence of a ground rupture, and it seemed that large areas did not have collapses along the projection of the fault, I thought that the death toll would be lower. It is possible that I could not tell if there were collapses with my relatively quick look. If the house pancaked but the roof was intact I might not see it. I could see the collapses in central Port Au Prince. In addition to bad construction, it seems very likely that the ground conditions will be bad: young sediment of some sort.

I do not mean to imply that destruction in a similar quake in California would be comparable. Construction is certainly better in California on average. There are lots of 1 story houses in California which, especially when wood frame, I've always heard would do well.
Chris