7.0 Earthquake Hits Haiti Hospital Collapses

[feddup]

Regarding the aid/supplies; what they were saying last night is during the first 72 hours they were more focused on getting the rescue crews, doctors and medical facilities in to find the missing while they are still alive, treat the wounded so they don't die while waiting for medical care and start to find a place for the bodies to stave off an epidemic and also get heavy machinery on the ground to start clearing the roadways so the envoys can get through. They are saying this morning that Port Au Prince is becoming enveloped in the god awful smell of thousands of bodies which have been lying in the tropical sun for going on three days. So, so sad.

I think the whole world has reacted very fast. It is impressive that within 24 hours rescue crews and relief orgs were already on the ground and within 48 hours tons and tons and tons of supplies are landing. Think about the time it takes to collect, load up and ship all those materials and people. And like Swag said and I think for us it is a little hard to comprehend but Haiti presents a ligistical nightmare because they had no infastructure to begin with and now what little they had is completely destroyed. The envoys are having a hell of a time trying to get where they need to go because the roads are destroyed and Haiti has no heavy machinery to clear them. The port is destroyed and they are having a hard time getting the supplies off the boats. The airport which is accustomed to handling about 20 flights a day is completely jammed packed and planes cannot land because there is no room. The whole thing is a mess but certainly not for a lack of people wanting to help but because the region has just been destroyed. I don't think the images we see on the news are able to portray the extent of the devestation and I think all the people who are there trying to help knew it was really bad but from what I have heard in interviews nothing could have prepared them for what they are seeing.

I think dropping supplies in theory sounds good but I think it reality it would cause complete and utter chaos, riots, people killing eachother to get what they can.

I saw so many images on the news last night that just touched my heart. The videos of just normal Haitian citizens, who have lost everything themselves, digging through rubble with their bare hands for hours trying to save a trapped stranger and refusing to give up until they do. One group who had been trying to save a trapped man had been at it for over 26 hours with no tools and they finally got him out and of course the 11 yr old girl who was trapped was saved because people walking past heard her cries for help. I cannot even think about all the people who are still there, trapped, alive, unable to move who will not be found in time.

In a bit of good news, last night they said that the Red Cross campaign to get donations through texting has been a huge success with over 5 million raised - and that was yesterday. I am sure that number has grown. That is just one organization too so combine that with all the other places people have been giving money too and we are talking about hundreds of million of dollars Americans have given to help the Haitians. I think that is awesome.

I think that is why the U.S. is sending Marines over. yes, if they started dropping things it would cause Chaos.
Kind of like the person who got trampled at Walmart when they had those things at ridiculous price.......
They WILL need the military there, they had to have national guard come in after Hurricane Katrina in N. O. it got too crazy.

 

[songline]

AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE.
Israel had deployed people to that region on the first day....

<<services they offer for the money you donate listed at link - SNIP >>>>

https://secure.ajws.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3460&3460.donation=form1

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Also known to use your donations for the target you intend to support. (not for clerical and Bull Chit).
https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/d...edium=cpc&utm_term=content&utm_campaign=haiti

Keep being generous, but do check each place because some of these people are just to happy
to take your money without any accountability.

 

[feddup]

FROM THE NY TIMES:
RONALD JEDNA, who was rescued from the rubble of his apartment building after the earthquake in Haiti.

"A day felt like a year. You’re buried alive. You can’t scream. You wonder if anyone will ever come."

This is why the live Search dogs are so valuable, When a person still alive
is buried a dog can sniff them out where a person cant hear/find them, the
dog will

And BTW. alot of S&R teams are totally volunteers, we had one team go to NYC. Alot of people get their dogs certified and do alot of work and then go totally volunteer, they rely on donations. Some use their own money. They are awesome:thumb:

 

[songline]

Maybe it makes a difference what region you are in but my personal experience with Red Cross is they are fantastic.

Our community and our home were hit by a major tornado and the Red Cross folks were incredible &#8211; what a comfort they were to all of us in our neighborhood. We were in what was later declared a Federal Disaster area and I don&#8217;t know what we would have done without the Red Cross. I always indicate my United Way donations to our heroes the Red Cross.

Our community and local Red Cross hosted Katrina evacuees and they did such a fine job. Pets of all kinds were also housed. The evacuees were treated like honored guests and many ended up relocating to our community.

The Red Cross also helped a coworker whose apartment was burned down in a fire.

I was seated at a table of Red Cross folks home briefly from their Katrina duty rotation at a luncheon and their expertise, professionalism, extensiveness of training and sacrifice for their duty was extraordinary.

YES the rescue workers are fantastic people absolutely. I loved all of them. They are volunteers.
Got to love them because they do care.
When it comes to money - I rather give it through organizations that are far more ethical.

SO if you want your donation to go for Haiti and Red Cross want it to go to Africa or to "pay salaries"
(very good salaries) that is where your money will go. very high percentage goes to clerical with them
I do not like how they operate at all. :no: During 9/11 I saw enough to never go back.
there are so many better organizations to give to. JMO and experience.
Also I was at the main office for a day, the paid clerical staff eat lunch much of the day, what work?.
It is the Volunteers we can revere and should revere. But how they deal with donations is despicable in my view.
Those who only see the rescue teams do not have a clue how RC actually operates.
Much More of the donations should go to where it was intended to go, by the donner.

 

[songline]

This is why the live Search dogs are so valuable, When a person still alive
is buried a dog can sniff them out where a person cant hear/find them, the
dog will

And BTW. alot of S&R teams are totally volunteers, we had one team go to NYC. Alot of people get their dogs certified and do alot of work and then go totally volunteer, they rely on donations. Some use their own money. They are awesome:thumb:

Yes it is that 6th sense that they have to hear and smell things that humans can not.
Thanks for posting that article. good article.

 

[feddup]

They really need bottled water. They said last night alot of the people have no clean water and I dont think it is cold there, people need WATER

Wyclef Jean has been great. I think he is from Haiti. I would gladly donate to him. I am sure he would get the money to the right place He is there now I think.

There is so much news I cant keep up with who is where but I have seen him on the News. Katie Couric has done two good 1 hr shows everynight, too. You can see how BAD it is.

 

[feddup]

http://wyclefjean.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/statement-by-wyclef-jean-on-haiti-earthquake/

Dont know if this has been posted.

 

[songline]

They really need bottled water. They said last night alot of the people have no clean water and I dont think it is cold there, people need WATER

Wyclef Jean has been great. I think he is from Haiti. I would gladly donate to him. I am sure he would get the money to the right place He is there now I think.

There is so much news I cant keep up with who is where but I have seen him on the News. Katie Couric has done two good 1 hr shows everynight, too. You can see how BAD it is.

I agree I am thinking about donating to him as well.
I have to get dressed and go out.
I hope today is the day I can write my checks.
These are the groups I am thinking are great: So far they are my best list of whom I trust.
I am sure there are others too: (definitly not Red Cross or UN)
Wyclef Jean
Habitat for humanity.
Doctors without boarders
American Jewish World Service

 

[songline]

Looters roam Haiti streets as aid trickles in
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34829978/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/?GT1=43001

Well they have to eat.....

 

[songline]

Video update - Ann Curry

msnbc.com Video Player

And this one a heartbreaker. the supplies are arriving and getting it to the people is hard.
msnbc.com Video Player

 

[Dark Knight]

I almost always use Catholic Relief Services: http://www.crs.org/

Something like 95% of your donation goes towards the need, making it easily one of the most efficient charities in the world.

Ratings and Endorsements of CRS: 1. Found to meet all 20 Charity Standards of the Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance. 2. Rating of A+ from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

 

[Jade]

YES the rescue workers are fantastic people absolutely. I loved all of them. They are volunteers.
Got to love them because they do care.
When it comes to money - I rather give it through organizations that are far more ethical.

SO if you want your donation to go for Haiti and Red Cross want it to go to Africa or to "pay salaries"
(very good salaries) that is where your money will go. very high percentage goes to clerical with them
I do not like how they operate at all. :no: During 9/11 I saw enough to never go back.
there are so many better organizations to give to. JMO and experience.
Also I was at the main office for a day, the paid clerical staff eat lunch much of the day, what work?.
It is the Volunteers we can revere and should revere. But how they deal with donations is despicable in my view.
Those who only see the rescue teams do not have a clue how RC actually operates.
Much More of the donations should go to where it was intended to go, by the donner.

We will just have to be in disagreement that the Red Cross is unethical!

The important point is we were rescued! Maybe those lunch eaters are more effective than you thought. No other organization steps in like Red Cross.

It is indeed difficult to be insured that any charitable donations are correctly applied.

I read this morning that a collation of churches in our area built a school that would meet comparable US codes but not earthquake codes! Hispaniola is on a major fault.

Guess Haitians are happy we could help :doh:

The article said if the school were still standing it would make a good shelter……..
Discouraging since Haiti has long, long been a donor of area churches. It is either like digging in sand or we are not being very effective down there.

Scientist warn of potential for devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in an area unprepared:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050205102502.htm

Situation made worst by homes and buildings not being built to withstand earthquakes:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114143321.htm

Oh, some good news in that article:

The geologist says that aftershocks, some of them significant, can be expected in the coming days, weeks, months, years, "even tens of years." But now that the stress has been relieved along that 50-60-km portion of the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden Fault, Lin says this particular fault patch should not experience another quake of equal or greater magnitude for perhaps 100 years.

 

[songline]

I almost always use Catholic Relief Services: http://www.crs.org/
Something like 95% of your donation goes towards the need, making it easily one of the most efficient charities in the world.

Ratings and Endorsements of CRS: 1. Found to meet all 20 Charity Standards of the Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance. 2. Rating of A+ from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

That is great.... they are the kind I will always recommend. :blowkiss:
Having that information is key.

 

[songline]

We will just have to be in disagreement that the Red Cross is unethical!

The important point is we were rescued! Maybe those lunch eaters are more effective than you thought. No other organization steps in like Red Cross.

It is indeed difficult to be insured that any charitable donations are correctly applied.

I read this morning that a collation of churches in our area built a school that would meet comparable US codes but not earthquake codes! Hispaniola is on a major fault.

Guess Haitians are happy we could help :doh:

The article said if the school were still standing it would make a good shelter&#8230;&#8230;..
Discouraging since Haiti has long, long been a donor of area churches. It is either like digging in sand or we are not being very effective down there.

Scientist warn of potential for devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in an area unprepared:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050205102502.htm

Situation made worst by homes and buildings not being built to withstand earthquakes:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114143321.htm

Oh, some good news in that article:

I am glad you were saved / rescued.
but it is not that hard to learn which organizations really use most of the money to where it is intended.
Most money that is sent as a donation to any tax exempt organization should reach its target.
That is not the case with the Red cross. you only met the relief rescue team who is a voluntary team
and they are great.
With the massive money they collect they should have much more go to its intended destination.
I know it did not happen with 9/11 - I still wonder where that money did go....

 

[songline]

Madonna gives $250K to Haiti assistance
Jan. 15, 2010, 11:08 AM EST

<<SNIP>>
The pop queen said Friday in a statement that her prayers are with the people of Haiti.
She says she donated to Partners In Health, a longtime health care provider there.

>>>more at link>>>
http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=451955&GT1=28122

I think it is great that many entertainers are doing this.

Hollywood is helping Haiti
Check it out:
Sting,
U2
usher
<snip>

 

[songline]

Gisele Gives $1.5M to Haiti, Other Stars Step Up to Help
<<<snip >>
The wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady "was so moved, she knew she had to do what she could to help," a source close to the supermodel tells PEOPLE, adding that on Thursday Bündchen donated $1.5 million to the Red Cross.
>>>more at link>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20337201,00.html

Twitter Support
A host of celebs have been Tweeting about their plans to donate:

&#8226; Ben Stiller has been raising money for Save the Children's Ceverine Community School Project in Haiti and Tweets that "people in Haiti need our help and attention right now."

&#8226; The Office star Rainn Wilson urges fans to give more than $100 to Planting Peace in Haiti. "I'll send you a personalized, signed foto!"

&#8226; Actress Alyssa Milano Tweeted, "I just donated $50,000 to UNICEF for Haiti relief. Which corporation will match my donation?"

&#8226; Maxwell wrote on Twitter that he was present at a meeting with former President Bill Clinton about ways to help Haiti.

&#8226; Blink 182 lead singer Mark Hoppus Tweeted about selling Haiti-relief T-shirts, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross.

&#8226; Comedian Jimmy Fallon and singer John Mayer have encouraged people to donate to Haiti via text.

&#8226; Adam Lambert, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan have also taken to Twitter to pledge to give money to Haiti.

 

[6angels]

Those who say not to donate need to keep their mouths shut. Your life is not worth any more then the life of those is in Haiti. Just think if you was there and someone said " don't help". This could happen ANYWHERE. We can walk into any walmart, grocery store or mall and get a drink of fresh water from the fountain for FREE but yet these people many will die from lack of water alone. WE ARE ALL HUMAN. I don't have a lot of money but I will be donating everything I can. My husband and I hope to donate enough money to buy 500 bottles of water.It is not going to harm my family of 8 to go without soda, chips etc for a month and donate instead We can eat sandwiches for a week and we will be just fine.

YES we have needs in America but atleast we can have fresh water. Those that need can go to food pantries have shelters to stay at and can apply for food stamps. Yet some say don't donate OMG. I can't believe it I just can't we are better then that we ARE. Even if you donated $1 it is something and will go to good use. My son's school will be holding a fund raiser next week as well they are asking for blankets clothing etc we will deliver at the very least 15 bags of clothing and blankets that we have all out grown.


These people are WORTHY of help if you can please please help. This not only effects Haiti there is people from all over the world there yes including the USA.

You don't have to have $ to help donate old clothing blankets anything just anything your able to donate please donate. These are humans they are dieing please I am begging you to help.They are so worthy as we all are .


America is not perfect we messed up with Katrina we can't ever ever make up for that we can't ever go back in time but right now right this second we can do what we can to help the people in Haiti.

 

[shana]

GuideStar and Charity Navigator have pages of recommendations and advice. (I've used both for years in connection with a charitable foundation with which I'm affiliated.)

Charity Navigator has an excellent ratings system. Here is its page on Haiti:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1004

Consider Direct Relief International with its 62.39 4-star rating:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3626

hth

 

[Woe.be.gone]

A few hours ago CNN showed video of a bulldozer* heading down a street to help clear some rubble. It is painstaking to watch people try to find people who are trapped and buried in the cement piles using only their hands.

Did anyone hear the story about the American man whose daughter was reported safe. When he got to Boston to meet her flight, he found out there had been an error in communication and his daughter's whereabouts is still unknown. That is heartbreaking. My prayers are with them.

Does anyone know if they found the red headed boy, age 13, from Virginia Beach? I sure hope so.

Today may be the day that some meaningful distribution of goods and organization gets underway. God knows it's needed. I hope we get to see water and food being passed out later not to mention the medical supplies that are now in country but not to the facilities yet. CNN is saying now "Aid shipments arrive at Haiti field hospital". Great news - it's a start.

My heartfelt prayers go out to all the victims as well as all the brave and skilled people who are there helping to bring relief.

*My husband told me a bulldozer is not the proper equipment needed to lift heavy concrete. Then I saw that they used a bulldozer to push dead bodies into a mass grave. This is sickening. I hope they get the proper lifting equipment to help move the fallen concrete and potentially free survivors. Time is running out.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Oh no. A truck brought biscuits to some of the people. The package has two dates on it - manufacture date which is 2008 and expiration date which is November 2010. Someone waiting to be fed noticed the 2008 date and shouted that they were being given bad biscuits. The people are becoming dilirious. Also they may be distrustful of outsiders and were on edge thinking they will be getting others' cast offs so-to-speak. These are high energy biscuits provided by the World Food Program. A lot of people ended up with nothing because of the misunderstanding. People even threw the biscuits to the ground and stepped on them.

Right off the bat this is an example of why there needs to be an extremely organized system in place for the distribution of goods. The truck had to drive off because certain people became so disorderly. The people began pushing and shoving and were yelling.