7.3 Earthquake hits Haiti; Tsunami feared

[Senusret I]

Substantial damages and casualties are expected following the quake, which measured 7.3 on the Richter scale, and two powerful aftershocks which followed.


A hospital and a three-storey building in Petionville have reportedly collapsed.


A reporter for the AFP agency said a tractor was already at the scene trying to dig out victims as people fled onto the streets of the impoverished country in panic.


http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor...sunami_Warning

[dreamseeker]

this is awful. haiti is already a poverty stricken country. i hope that they get a good deal of aid.

[Gusteau]

One of my pledge brothers is Haitian, he goes back to visit family over breaks. I thought he was already back in the country but he's still there. None of us have been able to get in touch with him (which could be expected in such a disaster, but...) Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

[GatorDG]

My prayers are with everyone there. With a quake that large there will be aftershocks for months to come that might continue to cause damage.

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

One of my pledge brothers is Haitian, he goes back to visit family over breaks. I thought he was already back in the country but he's still there. None of us have been able to get in touch with him (which could be expected in such a disaster, but...) Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

someone tweeted this info: you could try this. US State Dept phone line for US citizens wondering about family in Haiti 1-888-407-4747

[kddani]

How terrible. My parents are on a cruise right now, thankfully they were in Aruba yesterday and are in Curacao today, so they're some distance away. They got to visit Haiti on a cruise a few years back before it became really unstable and it was really not your typical cruise ship stop - they really liked it.

Those poor people.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

One of my pledge brothers is Haitian, he goes back to visit family over breaks. I thought he was already back in the country but he's still there. None of us have been able to get in touch with him (which could be expected in such a disaster, but...) Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Please let us know when you hear something.

We have connections with St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Port-au-Prince. Word came that it is now rubble, although it appears that most of the 50 or so who live there are safe; at last word, one was unaccounted for.

One of my most cherished possessions is a Haitian carving of Christ as the Good Shepherd. I bought it in Port-au-Prince when I was 17, and I've always loved the way the shepherd, who holds the sheep in his arms, and the sheep look at each other. I look at that lamb today and pray that the people of Haiti will be held.

[epchick]

My prayers go out to all the Haitian people as well as all the people from around the world who lived in Haiti as peacekeepers. My prayers also go out people in Taiwan and Spain who supposedly had many prominent buildings fall as well (although I don't know how they felt it that bad, but DR and Cuba didn't have any major damage).

Among the known dead (according to this article) are:
the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince
the United Nations' secretary-general's special envoy (although there are conflicting reports, some say he is dead while others say he is just 'missing')
11 peacekeepers from Brazil
3 peacekeepers from Jordan
8 peacekeepers from China


and apparently Haiti's Senate president is alive but trapped in the ruined Parliament building along with many others.

[AGDee]

Some links with more links for organizations that are providing aid for Haiti:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/01/13...e.how.to.help/
https://re.clintonfoundation.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=3869

Per the last link, you can text HAITI to 20222 and $10 will be donated and will be billed to your cell phone account.

Can you imagine what a difference we could make if every adult in the US who is employed donated $10? I mean, what's $10? 3 Starbucks coffees, two long islands at the bar, the cover charge for one night at some bars, lunch out.

[Gusteau]

Thanks everyone, for your thoughts and prayers.

I just got word that my brother is OK and will be returning to the US soon!

[AGDee]

So glad to hear that!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by OTW

Warning, need to vent.

For the record, I donated some money last night to the Red Cross. I joined a group on FB Senusret I joined and I figured the Red Cross would be the best agency I can trust with my money. Today at my work I helped pack boxes of medical supplies and medicines because 3 of our volunteers will be heading to help with relief efforts.

Today I posted a link for people to purchase commemorative LOST Fan Club t-shirts so they can get them in time for the premiere on the beach. One of my friends questioned me, saying: "Wouldn't you rather use the money for Haiti?"

I realize the people of Haiti are suffering and I won't ever forget how grateful I am to have the things I have. But no one has the right to criticize or question what the hell I do with my own damn money!!!

I just read that -- that was reallllly irritating.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by OTW

Warning, need to vent.

For the record, I donated some money last night to the Red Cross. I joined a group on FB Senusret I joined and I figured the Red Cross would be the best agency I can trust with my money. Today at my work I helped pack boxes of medical supplies and medicines because 3 of our volunteers will be heading to help with relief efforts.

Today I posted a link for people to purchase commemorative LOST Fan Club t-shirts so they can get them in time for the premiere on the beach. One of my friends questioned me, saying: "Wouldn't you rather use the money for Haiti?"

I realize the people of Haiti are suffering and I won't ever forget how grateful I am to have the things I have. But no one has the right to criticize or question what the hell I do with my own damn money!!!

Grrrrrrrrr. Unless he has access to your checking account he has no way of knowing what you do with your money, and has no right to ask.

ETA: My neighbor upstairs is Haitian. She said that they're starting to make contact with family members, and most everyone is accounted for. Luckily enough, her grandmother visited NYC for the holidays (where my neighbor's parents live) and had not returned yet.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by OTW

Warning, need to vent.

Oh my, that's terrible! You are right though, no one has a right to tell you what to do with your hard-earned money. I wonder if that person even donated to help Haiti.

[DaemonSeid]

Ok...this doesn't deserve it's own thread but

Pat Robertson is an @SS