Haiti was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on January 12, 2010, at 4:53 p.m. EST. The catastrophic earthquake sparked a tsunami watch for parts of the Caribbean, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Many buildings near the capital have collapsed due to poor structural design, the capital is largely destroyed, and Presidential palace was badly damaged, but the President is unhurt. The earthquake is the country’s worst in over 200 years.
The situation in Haiti is “truly heart wrenching” in a nation that is “no stranger to hardship and suffering,” President Obama said at a press conference Wednesday.
Important collapsed buildings include the national penitentiary, the Parliament Building, the National Cathedral, main airport’s control tower and few of the ministries including finance.
Despite the badly damaged road of the airport, planes carrying aid from the UN are expected to arrive in Port-au-Prince this morning. American President Obama promised a “swift and aggressive” effort including rescue workers and humanitarian aid as part of a coordinated international response.
The first Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) from USAID is expected to arrive in Haiti from San Jose, Costa Rica around 1:30 p.m. The team from Fairfax County is expected to arrive around 3 p.m. from Dulles. The USS Comfort hospital ship, which is now berthed in Baltimore, has begun to recall its crew.
You can help the people in need by donating whatever you can to Haiti Emergency Relief Fund. Eve a single dollar by a million people makes it a million dollar. For donating information, follow the link:
http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/HERF.html
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