7.0 Earthquake Strikes Haiti

That's a huge earthquake and sad for Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the World.

Some of you "old school SoWallers" know about our friend Captain Gary, who is a political analyst for the State Dept. His first gig was in Haiti during the time of terrible unrest (2005-2007), and it was not unusual to hear gunfire during phone conversations with him. He survived his stint in Haiti, and the next 2 year gig was in pleasant and quiet New Zealand. During that time, he married the wonderful woman he had met during his time in Haiti, so he of course asked for his 3rd assignment to be back there- and now we are worried. Reports sound terrible, especially for a place that is not only devastated by poverty, but seems to get hit by Mother Nature on a regular basis.

I just sent an email, but I don't expect to get an answer back very quickly as I imagine communications are probably limited at this point.

From the article:

Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., Raymond Joseph, said from his Washington office that he spoke to President Rene Preval's chief of staff, Fritz Longchamp, just after the quake hit. He said Longchamp told him that "buildings were crumbling right and left" near the national palace. He said he had not been able to get through by phone to Haiti since.

I pray for your friend's safety, jdarg.

From the article:


I pray for your friend's safety, jdarg.

Same here

Same here as well.

I had no idea there was a tectonic plate there, but when you look at the shift in the lower part of the island to the east, its obvious.



Caribbean Plate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Me too.

I hate this for any country, but could it have been in a place that wasn't already messed up enough like this country. People were reportedly eating dirt there last year because they were starving so badly.

Me too.

I hate this for any country, but could it have been in a place that wasn't already messed up enough like this country. People were reportedly eating dirt there last year because they were starving so badly.

Captain Gary has told us the saddest stories. He used to write email blogs, but as his job has become bigger and more time consuming, they are few and far between. In fact, I have not had much real news since late last summer, other than the violence has not been as bad as his since his first post.

One story that still haunts me will probably be repeated over and over in the coming days. Many people do not have the money to bury their dead, so the bodies are put out in the street and burned, to keep the roaming packs of dogs from eating them. It is a poverty that is unimaginable.

That is a huge earthquake. I've been in some small 3 and 4 pointers and that is enough to rattle you good. Very scary. Will have to watch the news for more info. Lots of people out on cruises in the Caribbean right now. Guess there is a tsunami warning? or not.

NPR blog with updates: Haiti Rocked By Magnitude 7 Earthquake Near Capital; Catastrophe Feared - The Two-Way - Breaking News, Analysis Blog : NPR

It appears that a tsunami is unlikely due to the type of earthquake. Two strong aftershocks already.

jdarg:

I've been placed on high alert with our FL1 DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) and will probably be heading to Haiti within 24hrs.

Send your email information to me at kingfish0318@embarqmail.com with the name and contact information for your friend and I'll see what I can find out. Probably will be a few days with little/no cell/internet....

jdarg:

I've been placed on high alert with our FL1 DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) and will probably be heading to Haiti within 24hrs.

Send your email information to me at kingfish0318@embarqmail.com with the name and contact information for your friend and I'll see what I can find out. Probably will be a few days with little/no cell/internet....

Thank you Arkiehawg. Thankfully (and with some tears of relief), the following email was in my inbox this morning- Gary, his wife, and children are OK.

[FONT=&quot]INGRID HER FAMILY AND I ARE OK. VERY MUCH DAMMAGE IN PAP. MANY ROADS IN PAP BLOCKED WITH RUBBLE. MANY BUILDING COLLAPSED IN PAP, BUT NONE FOR US OR JM/VERENA, THO MUCH DAMAGE TO WALLS ETC. IN PETIONVILLE WHEN IT HIT AND DROVE PART WAY HOME BEFORE ABANDONING CAR IN JUVENAT AND WALKING THE REMAINDER. CLIMBED OVER RUBBLE AND THROUGH ABANDONED VEHICLES LIKE A DISASTER MOVIE. NOW ORGANIZING SECURITY AND RESOURCES FOR TENANTS ON PROPERTY AND PREPARING FOR THE MORNING/ EVERYONE SLEEPING OUTSIDE AS AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE. NO INJURIES AMONG US, STAFF OR TENNANTS. SOME EMBASSY STAFF INJURED.

DONT BOTHER TO RESPOND AS I WALKED TO FRIENDS HOUSE WITH OPERATING SATELLITE INTERNET. KEEP US AND HAITI IN YOUR PRAYERS. EXPECT BAD NEWS AS THE DAMAGE IS ASSESSED. SAW ENTIRE HILLSIDES WITH HOUSES COLLAPSED AND MANY FLATTENED BUILDINGS. STREETS FILLED WITH PEOPLE WITH SOME CRYING AND OTHERS SINGING HYMS. WITNESSED MANY INJURED. EXPECT THAT MANY OF US AT EMBASSY WILL BE INVOLVED IN RELIEF EFFORTS.

INGRID AND I SEND OUR LOVE,

GARY[/FONT]

jdarg:

I've been placed on high alert with our FL1 DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) and will probably be heading to Haiti within 24hrs.

Send your email information to me at kingfish0318@embarqmail.com with the name and contact information for your friend and I'll see what I can find out. Probably will be a few days with little/no cell/internet....

How very nice of you Arkie

DO report back to us and TAKE CARE!!

G (your neighbor reallll soon!)

jdarg, so glad to know your friend and family are safe. What a terrible tragedy. Just so sad.

State Department website (U.S. Department of State) has a link that explains the best way to help, and has a list of organizations, what they do, and how to donate.

How To Help | InterAction

"A number of InterAction members are responding to the needs of the affected population, many with years of experience working in the country."

For donations to the Red Cross, text "Haiti" to 90999 and $10 will be donated to the Red Cross.

Pat Robertson: Haiti 'Cursed' By 'Pact To The Devil' (VIDEO)

He never lets a tragedy pass without injecting his lunacy.

I thought he was dead?

Here's the link if you want to donate to Doctors Without Borders:
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=ADR1001E1D01

Al Jazeera's got people in the area, and is going wall to wall coverage that only CNN seems close to matching. Warning- somewhat more graphic than the video feeds the US is getting:

Livestation | Watch instant, interactive, live TV on your desktop | Live streaming TV to your computer and iPhone

There will be email scams. DO NOT respond to any email solicitations.

As a financial professional I endorse Doctors without Borders - their administrative costs are lower than other organizations so more money can be used for relief.

My wife's cousin lives in Haiti part-time and her family has not heard from her.

There will be email scams. DO NOT respond to any email solicitations.

As a financial professional I endorse Doctors without Borders - their administrative costs are lower than other organizations so more money can be used for relief.

My wife's cousin lives in Haiti part-time and her family has not heard from her.

According to the reports I have read, the Doctors Without Borders have no place to work- their facilities are too damaged- I wish they would set up a text donation system like the Red Cross to make it easy for people to donate.

MercyCorps is supposed to have low admin costs as well.

We hope Mrs. Buzz hears from her cousin soon. This is all so overwhelming and hard to comprehend from afar- I can't even imagine being there.

On a cool note, Bdarg met Arkiehawg today in a completely random way- and figured out that we "knew" each other. It's a small SoWal world.;-)

Thank you for the reminder - you can find the contact info for legitimate charity organizations on most of the major news sites. Don't give money to anyone who contacts YOU!

Haiti is a very poor country without the resources and infrastructure we take for granted and they can use all the help they can get.

Watch for fraud
Watchdogs on Alert for Haiti Charity Fraud - CBS News

Special place in hell for those who would profit off a tragedy like this! :angry:

Nice to see all of the different ways people and countries are trying to help.

Finally received Federal orders. Leaving on the 14th around 05:30 from VPS with the FL-1 DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team). Initial staging in ATL, then to Port-au-Prince.

Please keep the team in your thoughts/prayers.....

Arkie..