Haiti Earthquake

Richard · 01-13-2010, 09:28

A katrina-level challenge for the current administration.

Quote:

For Immediate Release January 12, 2010
Statement by the President on the Earthquake in Haiti

“My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake. We are closely monitoring the situation and we stand ready to assist the people of Haiti.”

Background information: The President was informed of the earthquake at 5:52pm. The President asked his staff to make sure that embassy personnel are safe, and to begin preparations in the event that humanitarian assistance is needed. The Department of State, USAID and the United States Southern Command have begun working to coordinate an assessment and any such assistance.

Quote:

Help for Haiti
January 13, 2010

The President has been receiving updates on the urgent situation in Haiti late into last night and this morning, and top members of his team have been convening to formulate the government response.

You can also help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contriubute online here, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."

Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888-407-4747.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

Richard · 01-13-2010, 15:29

Well, I'm certainly glad the founder and chairman of CBN cleared this one up for us - seems as if it's a hell of a mess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5nraknWoes

And so it goes...

Richard's jaded $.02

mojaveman · 01-13-2010, 16:23

I guess it was a pretty bad one. 100K feared dead. A 2,000 personnel Marine expeditionary unit on the way to help.

I live in earthquake country and one of my greatest fears is suffering a major one like this.

JJ_BPK · 01-13-2010, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojaveman

I guess it was a pretty bad one. 100K feared dead. A 2,000 personnel Marine expeditionary unit on the way to help.

I live in earthquake country and one of my greatest fears is suffering a major one like this.

Is it me??
Has anyone heard of the damage in the Dominican Republic??
Santo Domingo is about 160 miles(not 40) from Port-Au-Prince.

The news seems to have ignored the other half on the island..

MatthewD44 · 01-13-2010, 17:09

I noticed that also.. kinda seemed a bit strange.

Richard · 01-13-2010, 17:19

The Devastating Haiti Earthquake: Questions and Answers

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/...ionsandanswers

Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 days

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak...quakes_all.php

Fault Line Map

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak.../10/290_20.php

Ryanr · 01-13-2010, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Well, I'm certainly glad the founder and chairman of CBN cleared this one up for us - seems as if it's a hell of a mess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5nraknWoes

.... Wow. Wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to toss blame at the people who are currently under a pile of rubble.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Has anyone heard of the damage in the Dominican Republic??

The BBC has the following graphic on their site, and it seems to show that the most severe damage was limited to Haiti. (Is it okay to post images? I didn't see anything about it in the rules.)

TOMAHAWK9521 · 01-13-2010, 21:44

I was down there back in '95 and it was pretty run down then, to say the least. I had heard it had gotten even worse since then. Damn, I can't imagine how much of a mess that place is after this catastrophe.

01-14-2010, 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOMAHAWK9521

I was down there back in '95 and it was pretty run down then, to say the least. I had heard it had gotten even worse since then. Damn, I can't imagine how much of a mess that place is after this catastrophe.

Was there with Catholic Charities in 98 and 99 doing immunzation clinics. I was appalled by the people and the country, the corruption was amazing. In the past 5 yrs alone the US has given about a billion in aid and not much has reached the people. World Bank has given much more over time with no results to speak of. Aid groups of varying adgendas have been in country for the past 20 yrs and little has changed. I got the strong impression that a hand out was more important to the populace than a hand up.
YMMV
AM

**The Reaper** · 01-14-2010, 06:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by armymom1228

Was there with Catholic Charities in 98 and 99 doing immunzation clinics. I was appalled by the people and the country, the corruption was amazing. In the past 5 yrs alone the US has given about a billion in aid and not much has reached the people. World Bank has given much more over time with no results to speak of. Aid groups of varying adgendas have been in country for the past 20 yrs and little has changed. I got the strong impression that a hand out was more important to the populace than a hand up.
YMMV
AM

Concur.

The Haitians who I have known in the US have largely been content to go on welfare upon arrival and stay there. As always, there are some exceptions.

TR

craigepo · 01-14-2010, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by armymom1228

Was there with Catholic Charities in 98 and 99 doing immunzation clinics. I was appalled by the people and the country, the corruption was amazing. In the past 5 yrs alone the US has given about a billion in aid and not much has reached the people. World Bank has given much more over time with no results to speak of. Aid groups of varying adgendas have been in country for the past 20 yrs and little has changed. I got the strong impression that a hand out was more important to the populace than a hand up.
YMMV
AM

I have heard discussions regarding historically English-type governments vs. French-type governments. There are basically three jurisdictions in the Western Hemisphere that are French based: 1) Haiti; 2) Louisiana; and 3) Quebec. The rest of the Northern part of the Western hemisphere has English-type governments.

You may draw your own conclusions.

rubberneck · 01-14-2010, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Well, I'm certainly glad the founder and chairman of CBN cleared this one up for us - seems as if it's a hell of a mess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5nraknWoes

And so it goes...

Richard's jaded $.02

Pat Robertson and I don't pray to the same god. The god I pray too doesn't visit untold wrath on a people because they sought to be free. How a "man of god", and I sue that term very loosely, could say on national tv that the people of Haiti brought this on themselves is beyond words.

kgoerz · 01-14-2010, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Concur.

The Haitians who I have known in the US have largely been content to go on welfare upon arrival and stay there. As always, there are some exceptions.

TR

When I was there. We could not even pay them to unload the free food and Aid from the Docks. They refused to lift a finger. They would not even work to receive free food. They wanted us to unload it and hand it out. They said it was our job. They were arguing this as their Children stood beside them showing clear signs of starvation and Mal-nourishment.
IMO. It's a dead Island not worthy of one ounce of our Sympathy. The US built a state of the art power plant back in the mid 90's. It was built to bring power to Port de Prince. One week after it was up and running and handed over to the Haitians. They looted and stripped it immediately.

**Pete** · 01-14-2010, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgoerz

.....and handed over to the ......... . They looted and stripped it immediately.

Sounds like the folks who live in Gaza.

Mr Furious · 01-14-2010, 18:18

I was there in 95 at the house in Petite Goave. As the Sr Charlie, at any given time I had close to 200 local folks working humanitarian projects around the area. Funding through the IOM (another story). Those folks worked their tails off for little next to nothing. They were appreciative of the work, and we were doing good things. At the end of my tour they suprised me with a gift. They all pitched in and the crew actually had a local craftsman make me a rocking chair. It sits in my living room today. They were the exception. We improved the fighting position for the next guy, but you can bet when all was said and done it reverted back to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.

As far as the majority of the population, I can remember it as clear as yesterday - Blanc blanc blanc blanc, bumwe te mange, bumwe te goude... Gimme gimme gimme!