U.S. Responds to Haiti Crisis

The government and various organizations in the U.S. swung into action on Wednesday in the wake of the worst earthquake in Haiti in 200 years.

The 7.0 earthquake, which was followed by dozens of aftershocks, struck near the capital city of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday night at 4:53p.m. EST.

President Obama, who was informed of the disaster within an hour of the first earthquake, offered words of sympathy and promises of help.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake,” said Obama in a statement released by the White House. “We are closely monitoring the situation and we stand ready to assist the people of Haiti.”

The Department of State, USAID and the United States Southern Command have already started working to coordinate assessment and assistance.

The most urgent immediate need was for doctors, which was even receiving corporate support from JetBlue airlines.

In fact, JetBlue was in contact with multiple non-profit organizations and officials that are working in tandem with the Haitian consulate to assist in the transportation of doctors, volunteers, and equipment.

“[This is] just to help out both our crew members and customers affected by this natural disaster in Haiti,” said Alison Croyle, a JetBlue press officer. “We’re looking to these organizations to tell us what they need.”

JetBlue plans to use open seats on existing nonstop flights to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from New York’s JFK, Boston, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and San Juan to transport volunteers and relief resources.

Additional charter flights, if needed, will be vetted through Haitian consular officials in the U.S.
During a press conference at the Haitian Consulate in New York on Wednesday, Consul General Felix Augustin said there are several things urgently needed. Aside from medical personnel, medical supplies and water are in high demand. But he added that there has been an outpouring of offers to help.

“We are in a situation where everybody wants to help,” said Consul General Augustin, who added that a local group of Haitian doctors was also preparing to go.

“I am surprised at the level of enthusiasm that exists in the Haitian community,” he said.
A non-profit organization based in New York, Give Them a Hand Foundation (GTAH), plans to transport medical personnel in cooperation with JetBlue. Volunteers from Miami to California have already volunteered to go, and GTAH is in the process of finalizing arrangements.

GTAH’s first round of doctors and other volunteers, 32 in all, will depart on Friday at the latest. But they are still looking for non-perishable food, cots, tents, portable generators, water, purification tablets, lights, bedding, clothing, medicine, anti-diarrhea medicine, and other supplies.

“This is disaster relief that fits in our mandate,” said Gordon Tapper, GTAH founder. “[We’re] an NGO that came out of the United Nations—it was formed by United Nations staff members.”

The U.S. government also moved quickly to assist, sending one of its Coast Guard cutters off the coast of Port-au-Prince Wednesday morning. The cutter is equipped with a helicopter flight deck, satellite communications equipment, and the ability to provide coordination to military aircraft in the area. A second cutter was dispatched, and two Coast Guard C-130 airplanes flew in to do damage assessments and search for people needing help.

The Department of Homeland Security was encouraging American people who want to help to donate money to disaster relief organizations such as the Red Cross.

The American Red Cross pledged an initial donation of $1 million to Haiti relief. The money will go toward supporting relief operations, including a warehouse opened in Panama to provide tarps, mosquito nets and cooking sets for approximately 5,000 families.

People can make a donation by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by texting "Haiti" to 90999 to send a $10 donation.