Graehm Gray-Total Devastation: The January 2010 Earthquake of Haiti
By now you have heard about the Magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck the island of Haiti on January 12, 2010 at 8:21pm. The epicenter was approximately 15 miles west southwest of the capital Port-Au-Prince. My friends, the impoverished nation of Haiti, with 80 % of the population already in poverty, did not need this new and overwhelming burden. Almost every building in the town and surrounding villages has either collapsed or has sustained major structural damage. There are reports coming in that well over 100,000 people have died. Three million people may be affected by this quake. Many thousands may be trapped underneath hundreds of pounds of concrete building materials. It is total devastation! Its chaos! The presidential palace, once a major landmark in the capital city, has been heavily damaged. The National Assembly building, the National Cathedral, the prison, and almost all hospitals have been either damaged or destroyed. Water and electricity are not functioning and the city’s infrastructure is gone. It is very difficult to look at the continuous stream of video and pictures. Misery and suffering, homelessness, hunger and fear; people walking around without hope, animals wandering free, people trying to find their lost ones, families waiting for any sign that their child, sister or brother is alive. And to top all things off, the evil that follows disaster- the looting, stealing and thugs that find this involuntary vulnerability as an opportunity.
The science of the quake reveals that it occurred near the Caribbean tectonic plate, in the Enriquillo-Plaintain Garden fault which was apparently locked for 250 years. Multiple after- shocks were recorded after the primary insult. In the attached neighboring Dominican Republic, people reported shaking buildings but no serious damage.
The response to this earthquake has been global. China, the United States, Great Brittan and France have responders on the ground in the capital. Rescue experts from all over the world are making their way to Haiti. Supplies from every corner of the globe are on their way. President Obama, pledging complete support, has enlisted the efforts of Presidents Clinton and Bush to help organize the relief response. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on the ground in Haiti. The problem is that there are limited capabilities to unload the relief supplies and equipment. The port is severely damaged. The airport also was damaged but is being modified to handle some o f the air traffic. Donations that are badly needed, are starting to come into the Red Cross. The William J. Clinton Foundation (President Clinton’s foundation ) started a relief fund that is also accepting donations. Search engine GOOGLE and Wall Street’s Goldman Sachs have donated millions of dollars. Numerous other celebrities are also making donations. But watch out for fraudulent charities. Check all foundations by going to the Foundation Center.
So my friends, this total devastation requires our immediate attention. We all inhabit this place we call Earth. The people of Haiti need our help. The rescue effort is underway. We must truly salute and pray for all of the amazing rescue teams that are braving the terrible conditions and risking their own safety to help others in need.
It is estimated that Haiti will need trillions of dollars to rebuild. Let us pray for all of the people of Haiti Then go to the phone or your computer and make a donation. It’s the right thing to do!
Contact Information:
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
William J. Clinton Foundation: www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake
Medecins Sans Frontieres: http://www.msf.org/ or http://doctorswithoutborders.org/
Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990finder/
International Committee of the Red Cross: www.icrc.org/
By Graehm Gray
Posted in: Editor's Page
