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Haiti Earthquake Disaster Summary Report

Submitted by RedHeadSue on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 4:58pm.

American Red Cross Disaster Response Summary Haiti Earthquake Disaster Summary Report January 13, 2010 – 2:00 P.M. EST OPERATIONS On the evening of January 12, a series of earthquakes with magnitude 6.5 to 7.3 struck Haiti in the highly populated area of Department Ouest, 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. Within hours of the earthquake, the American Red Cross made an initial contribution of $200,000 of our own funds for relief activities and as of this morning we have pledged a total of $1 million to the response effort in Haiti. The American Red Cross has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross, which is expected to lead the Red Cross response to the earthquake. The Haitian Red Cross was founded in 1932 and is one of the primary organizations in the country responding to disasters. Although earthquakes are less common, Haiti is frequently impacted by hurricanes including those in 2008, and the Haitian Red Cross has developed experience in disaster response due those disasters. As is typical in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, the full extent of damage is unknown at this time. However, initial reports indicate a high number of casualties with widespread damage and collapsed buildings, creating an urgent need for search and rescue activities. As many as three million people may be affected. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation), as well as UN agencies and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are deploying teams to coordinate humanitarian assistance and provide search and rescue services. As with most earthquakes, we expect to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. The American Red Cross has made available all of the relief supplies from its warehouse in Panama which would provide for the basic needs for approximately 5,000 families. In addition, at the International Federation’s request, the American Red Cross is deploying a five-member Relief Emergency Response Unit (ERU) to manage the distribution of relief items to earthquake survivors. A disaster specialist is also en route to Haiti to support disaster assessments, and additional disaster specialists are on standby if needed. DONATION INFORMATION The American Red Cross is accepting public donations to support the Haitian response. People wishing to make donations to the American Red Cross International Response Fund – which is used to respond to disasters such as the Haiti earthquake – may make a donation via 1-800-REDCROSS or www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross does not anticipate accepting in-kind donations for this international response. DISASTER WELFARE INQUIRIES For inquiries regarding relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. The Red Cross family linking response in Haiti will focus on allowing people in the affected areas to contact their relatives abroad. Please note that telephone, internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster. People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225. VOLUNTEERS We are not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti. If you would like to volunteer for the American Red Cross, please contact your local chapter.

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We don't want you - Just your CASH!

Submitted by ONE ANGRY ARKIE (not verified) on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 11:59pm.

At the risk of sounding ANGRY, I find myself once again driven to comment about how we seem to help ourselves while claiming to help others:

THE CONTEXT - So this is your "summary report" on a disaster that for most people is just getting started? It's reads like a press release sent out from a corporate media office (which I suspect it was). The acronyms are FLYING here - no doubt 4 out of 5 dentists must recommend it for upward donations!

The American Red Cross is deploying 5 people from the "ERU" plus 1 "disaster specialist" - but, more specialists are on stand-by! (3) words: NICE JOB EVERYONE! The entire capital looks like a war zone and death estimates are in the thousands but you've got 6 on the gound and more on stand-by. What exactly would additionally need to happen for more personnel to be released?

What can we do to help you? (3) more words: SEND YOU MONEY - Nothing else, do not offer any supplies, do not call to help, do not attempt help - just send us the money!

On the bright side, this little diatribe should at least deflect some heat off the UAFS rantings - feel free to tell me otherwise if I'm incorrect.

Happy New Year!

Throw money at it.

Submitted by TomJeffDavis on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 11:44am.

I guess if you throw money at it you can clear your conscience especially if you give until it hurts. I guess I should go easy on this one so as not to offend our own culture!?

Haiti is in a huge debt for

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 2:10am.

Haiti is in a huge debt for banks and other countries so sending money wont help them at all as they need to pay back the debt. why dont you get a piece of proper information b4 commenting on anything because ur comment just dusnt make sense. if yu dont know anything, then dont even bother writing anything cuz ur just a selfish american who only cares about money.

The American Red Cross is

Submitted by RedHeadSue on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 11:19am.

The American Red Cross is supporting efforts of the Haitian Red Cross...we are sending supplies and personnel at their request. At the time this release was sent out (from our NHQ, which is not a corporate media entity), that was what they had requested of us and we responded immediately. We of course have more people and more supplies on stand-by and more there now (and some from the Red Cross in Panama). While everyone wants relief/help/assistance there immediately, I hope you understand that it takes time to do it effectively and safely.

Yes, you are correct in that a donation to the International Disaster Relief fund is the quickest and fastest way to get help to Haiti. The logistics of sending supplies from Arkansas to Haiti at this point are making it near impossible to get the items there in a timely fashion. Of course we hope that situation changes and would be happy to help those efforts.

We are not requesting local volunteers because it is not safe...a disaster situation such as this requires volunteers with specific training. We cannot endanger the safety of citizens by sending them to another country without proper training and previous experience.

When you say "help ourselves" I'm not sure who "ourselves" is? The American Red Cross is part of the International Movement of the Red Cross....we are the same entity, the same organization, founded under the same principles. If you come to my office today in Fort Smith, make a donation to the Haiti Earthquake...that money is earmarked and can only be used for that disaster. We will always gladly honor our donor's intent.

I am truly sorry that this made you angry....and hope that I have explained our response in such a way that makes sense. Would welcome your questions and comments anytime.

And finally, I want to ask everyone to think about what would happen here in Arkansas...we live on one of the most dangerous fault lines in all of North America, the New Madrid fault. The last earthquake on this fault line changed the course of the Mississippi River itself. If this were to happen again (and some specialists say it is long overdue), we would be expected to shelter, feed and care for 15,000 – 20,000 people here in Northwest Arkansas. We’ll need 8,000 – 10,000 Red Cross volunteers already trained, experienced, and ready if/when that occurs. I hope we have folks who will contact us about getting trained NOW and getting involved with local disaster relief efforts.

hang on to your beer money

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:10am.

Dear One Redneck Arkie,

Of course they need cash more than people. The money that it would take to ship a busload of workers to Haiti would be far better used for immediate medical, food, and rescue-related purchases.

My donations typically stay home; however, The Red Cross is one of two exceptions I make when donating. Natural disasters could just as easily happen in my neighborhood as in Haiti or anywhere else in the world.

Hang on to your cash and get yourself another 6-pack of Milwaukie’s Best. I’ll bump up my donation to cover yours, okay?

HANG ON TO YOUR MONEY, PERIOD

Submitted by TomJeffDavis on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 11:47am.

WE are gonna need it in these tough times, 200 Trane Layoffs, remember?