Earthquake 7.3 hits Haiti

[Krikit 1,166]

Oh wow.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

US husband saves wife trapped in Haiti rubble

42 mins ago

NEW YORK – A young American aid worker — trapped for about 10 hours under the rubble of her mission house that was destroyed in Haiti's earthquake — has been rescued by her husband.

Frank Thorp told CBS's "The Early Show" by phone from Haiti on Wednesday that he drove 100 miles to Port-au-Prince once he learned of the quake, and dug for over an hour to free his wife, Jillian, and her co-worker Charles Dietsch. The two were trapped under about a foot of concrete, he said.

"It was absolutely terrifying," Thorp said.

Thorp said he was in an area about 6 hours north of the capital when the temblor struck. He got a quick call from his wife telling him she was trapped, and that was all. So he began his long drive toward the devastation.

Arriving at the destroyed house, he said he saw his wife's hand from under the rubble and heard her tell him to keep it together and just get her out.

"We had to pull bricks and bricks and bricks and wood and doors and metal away for at least an hour before we were able to get her and her co-worker out," he said.

The executive director of Haitian Ministries for the Diocese of Norwich, Conn., Emily Smack, told CBS a security guard at the mission house is still missing. A housecleaner had severe injuries and may lose both legs, she said.

Jillian Thorp's father, Clay Cook of Old Saybrook, Conn., describes his daughter and son-in-law as "a strong couple" who each had their own trial to endure.

"Jill was pinned in the rubble and Frank was driving through the darkness, not sure what was waiting for him at the end of the drive," he said.

The 7.0-magnitude tremor caused massive destruction in the Haitian capital. Untold numbers remain trapped, and the death toll has so far been impossible to calculate.

[Nagishkaw 510]

My G-d.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

US citizens that want to find out about their family in Haiti should call

1-888-407-4747

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National American Red Cross releases $200,000 in aid to help communities affected by earthquake in Haiti

Tuesday, January 13, 2010 — The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by today’s earthquake in Haiti, and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.

“Initial reports indicate widespread damage in Port au Prince, with continuing aftershocks,” says Tracy Reines, director of international disaster response for the American Red Cross. “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 basic needs for approximately 5,000 families. In addition, it is deploying a disaster management specialist to Haiti, and has additional disaster specialists on standby if needed.

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 American Red Cross has staff on the ground in Haiti who provide ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention and disaster preparedness programs. At this time, all the three American Red Cross staff in Haiti have all been reported safe.

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 Haiti Red Cross has developed experience in disaster response due those disasters.

“We are not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti. If you would like to volunteer for or be involved with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, please contact the Frederick County Chapter 301-662-5131,” said Judy Peterson Supervisor Chapter Operations, Frederick County Chapter. We continue to need compassionate volunteers to respond to our local disasters such as the three house fires in the past week”, Peterson continued.

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. For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster.

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org. Financial donations are also accepted at the Frederick County Chapter and will be forwarded immediately to the International Response Fund.

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServ...CO_BigRedButton

[thongd4me 69]

I have many Haitian friends here in NY, my heart goes out to them all.

So far no news of fatalities among their families.

The aftermath will be equally devastating.

What little infrastructure there was there has been devastated,

making those who survive even more at risk.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Donate!

[ScottThuy 140]

Thousands feared dead after powerful Haiti quake More than 100,000 dead?

[Amby 490]

Thousands feared dead after powerful Haiti quake More than 100,000 dead?

I read somewhere they estimated about 500,000!

I very briefly spoke to my friend's sister again today. She spoke to my friend earlier today and she said everything is destroyed.

[ScottThuy 140]

The pictures I saw reminded me of Huricane Andrew... total destruction.. the bad part is that, even the government buildings are trashed and there seems to be little or no infrastructure in place.. roads out, communications down, power out, water limited or none... The long term #'s could be astounding when they take into account those that die as a result of starvation in the coming months...

[Amby 490]

you can't drink the water there anyways so that part shouldn't be as big of an issue

[Amby 490]

slideshow http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/world/201...ake-rocks-haiti

[ScottThuy 140]

wow.. they are dealing with fires in the rubble..

[hudons 0]

My prayers and best wishes are with all VJ-ers who have family in Haiti. This truly is a tragedy.

[ScottThuy 140]

Putting the numbers into perspective... Estimates of 1 in every 20 people in the country are now dead... over 5% of the population...