Earthquake hits Haiti

The Drain · 12th January 2010, 04:31 PM

Big earthquake hits Haiti

This looks really serious. I've been trying to contact a work colleague in Port-au-Prince, but can't get through. The mobile phone networks are down.

This from the BBC:

Quote:

BBC:
A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti, rocking the capital and sparking a tsunami alert for neighbouring states. Haiti's envoy to the US said it was a "catastrophe of major proportions" as reports from the capital spoke of casualties and damage.
The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), about 15km (10m) south-west of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said.
A hospital and other buildings are reported to have collapsed.

The Man · 12th January 2010, 04:56 PM

Wow 7.3 with 5.9 and 5.5 after aftershocks. I hope your colleague is alright.

WildCat · 12th January 2010, 05:01 PM

That's a powerful earthquake. I didn't know Haiti was so seismically active.

tyr_13 · 12th January 2010, 06:06 PM

Neither did I, but those are pretty strong aftershocks. Hopefully aid and emergency services are up to it.

AJM8125 · 12th January 2010, 06:22 PM

Hope everyone's OK. We went through a 7.1 in 1989 and it did moderate damage to a region that (for the most part) is prepared. The good news is they don't expect a tsunami:

Quote:

To: U.S. and Canadian Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #1 issued 01/12/2010 at 6:03PM AST

A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the coasts of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states, and Eastern Canadian provinces. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.

Based on the earthquake location, magnitude, and historic tsunami records, a damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic, Eastern Canadian and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Earthquakes of this size can generate destructive tsunamis along the coast near the epicenter. Authorities in the epicentral region should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.

At 5:53 PM Atlantic Standard Time on January 12, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.3 occurred in the Haiti region . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii will issue messages for areas in the Caribbean outside Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

This will be the only statement issued for this event by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center unless conditions warrant. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map and table. (NOTE: Travel time maps and tables indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave was generated.)

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2010/01/1...e333319-01.htm

ETA: USGS has downgraded it to 7.0

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak...10/us2010rja6/

Sam.I.Am · 12th January 2010, 06:43 PM

From what I've gathered from here and there on the internet is that a hospital in Port Au Prince collapsed as well as the parliament building and a 7 story building. There's also tens of dollars worth of damages in the shanty towns...

Sam.I.Am · 12th January 2010, 06:51 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/wo...ef=global-home

It sounds pretty bad.

The Man · 12th January 2010, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am

From what I've gathered from here and there on the internet is that a hospital in Port Au Prince collapsed as well as the parliament building and a 7 story building. There's also tens of dollars worth of damages in the shanty towns...

I read about the hospital, but not the parliament building. Undoubtedly, not very stringent construction practices. From what I have read so far, the epicenter was on the island itself making it that much more devastating.

MattusMaximus · 12th January 2010, 08:12 PM

From what I understand, they haven't had a quake like this in about 200 years. You combine that with the poor economic conditions in Haiti, and - pardon the pun - it's a recipe for disaster when something like this comes along. They not only don't have any recent experience in dealing with earthquakes like this, but even if they did they don't have the economic infrastructure to prepare for it or deal with the aftermath.

Damn, what a mess.

The Man · 12th January 2010, 08:25 PM

Just seeing some video on the news now, what a tragedy.

ETA:

It seems the epicenter was right at the capital of Port-au-Prince.

AJM8125 · 12th January 2010, 08:30 PM

Starting to look real bad.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...s-damaged.html

Pardalis · 12th January 2010, 08:31 PM

Dammit, it's one disaster after another that hits Haïti. Please, everyone, try to donate to the Red Cross.

AJM8125 · 12th January 2010, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Pardalis

Dammit, it's one disaster after another that hits Haïti. Please, everyone, try to donate to the Red Cross.

Blood, food and water also. Donate wherever and whatever you can afford please.

Sam.I.Am · 12th January 2010, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by AJM8125

Starting to look real bad.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...s-damaged.html

That image was from the Chinese quake a year ago. A couple of news outlets made the same mistake.

Same picture, different story.

This is from Haiti (the presidential palace).

Before:

After:

Kopji · 12th January 2010, 11:01 PM

CNN is falling all over themselves in a frenzy. There is actually news that is not some stupid celebrity or politician behaving badly. Anderson Cooper is on the air almost boasting that he's going to board a late night flight and try and drive to the capital overland via the Dominican Republic.

Hi ho silver!

shemp · 13th January 2010, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by Kopji

CNN is falling all over themselves in a frenzy. There is actually news that is not some stupid celebrity or politician behaving badly. Anderson Cooper is on the air almost boasting that he's going to board a late night flight and try and drive to the capital overland via the Dominican Republic.

Hi ho silver!

Likely this will result in a drop in their ratings.

Scott Haley · 13th January 2010, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by Pardalis

Dammit, it's one disaster after another that hits Haïti. Please, everyone, try to donate to the Red Cross.

I want to donate money to help the Hatians. Is the Red Cross the group to give it to? I remember the scandal when donations to help 9/11 victims weren't all used for that.

MattusMaximus · 13th January 2010, 08:13 AM

I'd guess the Red Cross has gotten their act together since the 9/11 screwup. I'll be donating to them later today.

Undesired Walrus · 13th January 2010, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by AJM8125

Blood, food and water also. Donate wherever and whatever you can afford please.

Can you donate blood abroad?

It looks worse and worse, with thousands now feared dead: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8456819.stm

Darth Rotor · 13th January 2010, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am

From what I've gathered from here and there on the internet is that a hospital in Port Au Prince collapsed as well as the parliament building and a 7 story building. There's also tens of dollars worth of damages in the shanty towns...

*Gollum voice*

While we loves us a bit of gallows humor in the morning, Precious, we are very sad to see that a hospital collapsed. Not good for the patients there, not good for people who will need treatment soon.

Prediction: USNS Mercy or USNS Comfort will be deployed to assist. Probably an amphib flotilla as well.

DR

The Drain · 13th January 2010, 08:27 AM

Our office in Port-au-Prince is a solid well-built two storey building. Well, it was.
It's been flattened.

Three of our colleagues, including my friend, were trapped for a while but have since been pulled out 'somewhat battered and bruised' and shaken but alive.

They're now back at work with our partner organisations in Haiti (charitable local NGOs) doing rescue work, and organising fresh water - including one which is big enough to have a web presence, Veterimed. Lack of medicine is a problem. So is lack of electricity, and with that the mobile phone network.

Later, over the next few days, we'll have to think about organising food and shelter for the survivors. Longer term, rebuilding.

Originally Posted by Scott Haley

I want to donate money to help the Hatians. Is the Red Cross the group to give it to? I remember the scandal when donations to help 9/11 victims weren't all used for that.

My advice would be to give to any large well-known international aid agency that already has a presence in Haiti. They have experience with disasters, they generally know what's wanted, and - more to the point - they find out from the survivors themselves what's wanted beforehand.

But please beware of small-scale operations that organise collections of food and clothes to be sent out on an ad hoc basis. Even though established with the best of intentions, the stuff they send is often inappropriate and clog up the system.

sylvan8798 · 13th January 2010, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Scott Haley

I want to donate money to help the Hatians. Is the Red Cross the group to give it to? I remember the scandal when donations to help 9/11 victims weren't all used for that.

I support Doctors WIthout Borders, which works around the world. Apparently all 3 of their Haitian hospitals have collapsed and been abandoned, and the doctors are working in parking lots.

grayman · 13th January 2010, 08:58 AM

From PZ Meyer's blog a link to this comment:

Quote:

Pat Robertson on CBN just said Haiti has had so many troubles bc they swore an oath 2 the Devil in 19th c. 2 free them from the French. #WTF

dudalb · 13th January 2010, 09:11 AM

Port Au Prince is in ruins. The death toll is going to be staggering.
Yeah, gallows humor is not appropriate.
Yeah, the way the media is making this an "event" is pretty obnoxious.
Next step, some showbiz "Celeb" flying to Hispanola to show his concern. I am sure Sean Penn,who has a history of this, is on his way now.

dudalb · 13th January 2010, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by WildCat

That's a powerful earthquake. I didn't know Haiti was so seismically active.

The whole Carribean is an seismic danger zone. The destruction of Port Royale in Jamaica and Mount Pele show that.
And one area which is going to have a devestating earthquake one day, because they are so totally unprepared for it, is the Mississippi valley. They forget about the biggest earthquake in US recorded history happened there circa 1806. And that is just a few seconds ago in seismic time.

Vorticity · 13th January 2010, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by grayman

From PZ Meyer's blog a link to this comment:

Jesus *********** Christ, Robertson is becoming the Phelps of television*. 'God hates Haiti'.

* Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment.

Vorticity · 13th January 2010, 09:36 AM

CNN is now reporting a death toll in the hundreds of thousands.

grayman · 13th January 2010, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Vorticity

* Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment.

True that. If corroboration is made I'm sure it will be reported.

Alareth · 13th January 2010, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Vorticity

Jesus *********** Christ, Robertson is becoming the Phelps of television*. 'God hates Haiti'.

* Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment.

Pat makes the comment around the 6 minute mark here

Vorticity · 13th January 2010, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Vorticity

Jesus *********** Christ, Robertson is becoming the Phelps of television*. 'God hates Haiti'.

* Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment.

But then, of course, this kind of thing doesn't really matter.

The Red Cross is mobilizing. You can make a donation online right now via this link.

ETA:

Says P.Z. Myers:

Quote:

If it makes you angry, turn your outrage into something constructive and use it to motivate you to donate to Haitian relief first. Deal with the evil scumbag Robertson later.

Yeah.

JihadJane · 13th January 2010, 09:49 AM

From the White House Blog:

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

bethysunport · 13th January 2010, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by sylvan8798

I support Doctors WIthout Borders, which works around the world. Apparently all 3 of their Haitian hospitals have collapsed and been abandoned, and the doctors are working in parking lots.

A friend of mine is going to Haiti on a Doctors Without Borders mission in February, I wonder if they'll be going now.

Nursefoxfire · 13th January 2010, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by bethysunport

A friend of mine is going to Haiti on a Doctors Without Borders mission in February, I wonder if they'll be going now.

There's a link on their main page where people can donate:

http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

dudalb · 13th January 2010, 10:36 AM

And the country might be going into total chaos. This is going to be one of those situations where even Angels of Mercy need Military Escorts.

Vorticity · 13th January 2010, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by dudalb

And the country might be going into total chaos. This is going to be one of those situations where even Angels of Mercy need Military Escorts.

Along those lines:

Quote:

Edmond Mulet, the U.N. assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, told CNN that the National Penitentiary collapsed and the inmates escaped, prompting worries about looting by escapees.

Built in 1915, the prison was overcrowded. Enlarged to a total capacity of 1,200, it held 3,908 inmates in December, the U.S. State Department has said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americ...ake/index.html

dudalb · 13th January 2010, 10:55 AM

You can bet the ready force at Camp LaJeune in North Carolina have gotten a heads up to prepare for emergency deployment.

Fiona · 13th January 2010, 10:55 AM

There was a telephone interview on radio 4's news programme tonight with a woman who runs an orphanage outside port au prince. Their building survived without much damage but she reportd that much of the city is flat. She said that it hit about 5 pm local time and was hopeful that many will have been outdoors because apparently much of life is lived outdoors including cooking.

Nevertheless she was clearly pretty traumatised and expected thousand and thousands of deaths. Her main concern was that they have food for the children in the orphanage for about a week and she does not think there is much chance of getting any more after that

They were still getting aftershocks while she was being interviewed and that was about 3:30 GMT today

some bbc footage here

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/...as/8457921.stm

Nursefoxfire · 13th January 2010, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Fiona

There was a telephone interview on radio 4's news programme tonight with a woman who runs an orphanage outside port au prince. Their building survived without much damage but she reportd that much of the city is flat. She said that it hit about 5 pm local time and was hopeful that many will have been outdoors because apparently much of life is lived outdoors including cooking.

Nevertheless she was clearly pretty traumatised and expected thousand and thousands of deaths. Her main concern was that they have food for the children in the orphanage for about a week and she does not think there is much chance of getting any more after that

They were still getting aftershocks while she was being interviewed and that was about 3:30 GMT today

I think I saw that: God's Littlest Angels, or some such name? She said her son (14) was at school down in P-a-P and wasn't able to make his way home until about 10 pm last night. I'd have gone out of my MIND if my son was in that situation!

Another news clip I saw was about the passengers of the plane that took off right as the quake was hitting. Imagine flying out of the airport as the ground and buildings crumble away underneath you...shades of "2012" or "The Langoliers"!

Fiona · 13th January 2010, 11:06 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/

the interview is here for those who can receive it

korenyx · 13th January 2010, 11:18 AM

I just tried to get to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and the site is overwhelmed.
Methodist workteams have been helping in Haiti for years and the church I attend sends a team down almost every year.

12th January 2010, 04:31 PM	#1
The Drain Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Atlantic - up there in the top right corner Posts: 2,578	Earthquake hits Haiti Big earthquake hits Haiti This looks really serious. I've been trying to contact a work colleague in Port-au-Prince, but can't get through. The mobile phone networks are down. This from the BBC: Quote: BBC: A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti, rocking the capital and sparking a tsunami alert for neighbouring states. Haiti's envoy to the US said it was a "catastrophe of major proportions" as reports from the capital spoke of casualties and damage. The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), about 15km (10m) south-west of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said. A hospital and other buildings are reported to have collapsed.
	__________________ I could be wrong. But that's extremely unlikely.

12th January 2010, 04:56 PM	#2
The Man Scourge, of the supernatural Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 7,515	Wow 7.3 with 5.9 and 5.5 after aftershocks. I hope your colleague is alright.
	__________________ "Not a seat but a springboard” (1942 Winston Churchill) "As he who, seeking asses, found a kingdom" (1671 Milton "Paradise Regained") "for it seem'd A void was made in nature, all her bonds Crack'd; and I saw the flaring atom-streams And torrents of her myriad universe, Ruining along the illimitable inane, Fly on to clash together again, and make Another and another frame of things For ever." (1868 Tennyson "Lucretius")

12th January 2010, 06:06 PM	#4
tyr_13 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Falconer, NY Posts: 9,652	Neither did I, but those are pretty strong aftershocks. Hopefully aid and emergency services are up to it.
	__________________ Circled nothing is still nothing. "Nothing will stop the U.S. from being a world leader, not even a handful of adults who want their kids to take science lessons from a book that mentions unicorns six times." -UNLoVedRebel Mumpsimus: a stubborn person who insists on making an error in spite of being shown that it is wrong

12th January 2010, 06:22 PM	#5
AJM8125 NWO Black Ops Tagger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: **** Creek, California Posts: 15,250	Hope everyone's OK. We went through a 7.1 in 1989 and it did moderate damage to a region that (for the most part) is prepared. The good news is they don't expect a tsunami: Quote: To: U.S. and Canadian Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #1 issued 01/12/2010 at 6:03PM AST A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the coasts of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states, and Eastern Canadian provinces. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas. Based on the earthquake location, magnitude, and historic tsunami records, a damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic, Eastern Canadian and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Earthquakes of this size can generate destructive tsunamis along the coast near the epicenter. Authorities in the epicentral region should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action. At 5:53 PM Atlantic Standard Time on January 12, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.3 occurred in the Haiti region . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.) The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii will issue messages for areas in the Caribbean outside Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This will be the only statement issued for this event by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center unless conditions warrant. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map and table. (NOTE: Travel time maps and tables indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave was generated.) http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2010/01/1...e333319-01.htm ETA: USGS has downgraded it to 7.0 http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak...10/us2010rja6/
	Last edited by AJM8125; 12th January 2010 at 06:31 PM. Reason: Forgot linky

12th January 2010, 06:43 PM	#6
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	From what I've gathered from here and there on the internet is that a hospital in Port Au Prince collapsed as well as the parliament building and a 7 story building. There's also tens of dollars worth of damages in the shanty towns...
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

12th January 2010, 05:01 PM	#3
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 48,998	That's a powerful earthquake. I didn't know Haiti was so seismically active.

12th January 2010, 06:51 PM	#7
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/wo...ef=global-home It sounds pretty bad.
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

12th January 2010, 08:07 PM	#8
The Man Scourge, of the supernatural Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 7,515	Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am From what I've gathered from here and there on the internet is that a hospital in Port Au Prince collapsed as well as the parliament building and a 7 story building. There's also tens of dollars worth of damages in the shanty towns... I read about the hospital, but not the parliament building. Undoubtedly, not very stringent construction practices. From what I have read so far, the epicenter was on the island itself making it that much more devastating.
	__________________ "Not a seat but a springboard” (1942 Winston Churchill) "As he who, seeking asses, found a kingdom" (1671 Milton "Paradise Regained") "for it seem'd A void was made in nature, all her bonds Crack'd; and I saw the flaring atom-streams And torrents of her myriad universe, Ruining along the illimitable inane, Fly on to clash together again, and make Another and another frame of things For ever." (1868 Tennyson "Lucretius")

12th January 2010, 08:12 PM	#9
MattusMaximus Intellectual Gladiator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the midst of a vast, beautiful & uncaring universe Posts: 14,175	From what I understand, they haven't had a quake like this in about 200 years. You combine that with the poor economic conditions in Haiti, and - pardon the pun - it's a recipe for disaster when something like this comes along. They not only don't have any recent experience in dealing with earthquakes like this, but even if they did they don't have the economic infrastructure to prepare for it or deal with the aftermath. Damn, what a mess.
	__________________ Visit my blog: The Skeptical Teacher The Times They Are A-Changin'

12th January 2010, 08:25 PM	#10
The Man Scourge, of the supernatural Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 7,515	Just seeing some video on the news now, what a tragedy. ETA: It seems the epicenter was right at the capital of Port-au-Prince.
	__________________ "Not a seat but a springboard” (1942 Winston Churchill) "As he who, seeking asses, found a kingdom" (1671 Milton "Paradise Regained") "for it seem'd A void was made in nature, all her bonds Crack'd; and I saw the flaring atom-streams And torrents of her myriad universe, Ruining along the illimitable inane, Fly on to clash together again, and make Another and another frame of things For ever." (1868 Tennyson "Lucretius") Last edited by The Man; 12th January 2010 at 08:30 PM.

12th January 2010, 08:30 PM	#11
AJM8125 NWO Black Ops Tagger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: **** Creek, California Posts: 15,250	Starting to look real bad. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...s-damaged.html

12th January 2010, 08:31 PM	#12
Pardalis Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montréal Posts: 25,831	Dammit, it's one disaster after another that hits Haïti. Please, everyone, try to donate to the Red Cross.

12th January 2010, 08:38 PM	#13
AJM8125 NWO Black Ops Tagger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: **** Creek, California Posts: 15,250	Originally Posted by Pardalis Dammit, it's one disaster after another that hits Haïti. Please, everyone, try to donate to the Red Cross. Blood, food and water also. Donate wherever and whatever you can afford please.

12th January 2010, 10:32 PM	#14
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	Originally Posted by AJM8125 Starting to look real bad. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...s-damaged.html That image was from the Chinese quake a year ago. A couple of news outlets made the same mistake. Same picture, different story. This is from Haiti (the presidential palace). Before: After:
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

12th January 2010, 11:01 PM	#15
Kopji Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mogollon Rim Posts: 7,697	CNN is falling all over themselves in a frenzy. There is actually news that is not some stupid celebrity or politician behaving badly. Anderson Cooper is on the air almost boasting that he's going to board a late night flight and try and drive to the capital overland via the Dominican Republic. Hi ho silver!

13th January 2010, 06:36 AM	#16
shemp Timothy, Timothy, where on earth did you go? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: trapped in a cave-in with Joe Posts: 12,884	Originally Posted by Kopji CNN is falling all over themselves in a frenzy. There is actually news that is not some stupid celebrity or politician behaving badly. Anderson Cooper is on the air almost boasting that he's going to board a late night flight and try and drive to the capital overland via the Dominican Republic. Hi ho silver! Likely this will result in a drop in their ratings.
	__________________ Church on Sunday, sleep and nod Tryin' to duck the wrath of God Preacher's fillin' us with fright Tryin' to tell us what he thinks is right He really got to be some kind of nut (I can't use it!) Tryin' to make it real - compared to what?

13th January 2010, 06:50 AM	#17
Scott Haley Muse Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 562	Where do I send money? Originally Posted by Pardalis Dammit, it's one disaster after another that hits Haïti. Please, everyone, try to donate to the Red Cross. I want to donate money to help the Hatians. Is the Red Cross the group to give it to? I remember the scandal when donations to help 9/11 victims weren't all used for that.
Scott Haley Muse Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 562

13th January 2010, 08:13 AM	#18
MattusMaximus Intellectual Gladiator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the midst of a vast, beautiful & uncaring universe Posts: 14,175	I'd guess the Red Cross has gotten their act together since the 9/11 screwup. I'll be donating to them later today.
	__________________ Visit my blog: The Skeptical Teacher The Times They Are A-Changin'

13th January 2010, 08:15 AM	#19
Undesired Walrus Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: London Posts: 10,882	Originally Posted by AJM8125 Blood, food and water also. Donate wherever and whatever you can afford please. Can you donate blood abroad? It looks worse and worse, with thousands now feared dead: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8456819.stm
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, 1945

13th January 2010, 08:21 AM	#20
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,232	Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am From what I've gathered from here and there on the internet is that a hospital in Port Au Prince collapsed as well as the parliament building and a 7 story building. There's also tens of dollars worth of damages in the shanty towns... Gollum voice While we loves us a bit of gallows humor in the morning, Precious, we are very sad to see that a hospital collapsed. Not good for the patients there, not good for people who will need treatment soon. Prediction: USNS Mercy or USNS Comfort will be deployed to assist. Probably an amphib flotilla as well. DR
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

13th January 2010, 08:27 AM	#21
The Drain Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Atlantic - up there in the top right corner Posts: 2,578	Our office in Port-au-Prince is a solid well-built two storey building. Well, it was. It's been flattened. Three of our colleagues, including my friend, were trapped for a while but have since been pulled out 'somewhat battered and bruised' and shaken but alive. They're now back at work with our partner organisations in Haiti (charitable local NGOs) doing rescue work, and organising fresh water - including one which is big enough to have a web presence, Veterimed. Lack of medicine is a problem. So is lack of electricity, and with that the mobile phone network. Later, over the next few days, we'll have to think about organising food and shelter for the survivors. Longer term, rebuilding. Originally Posted by Scott Haley I want to donate money to help the Hatians. Is the Red Cross the group to give it to? I remember the scandal when donations to help 9/11 victims weren't all used for that. My advice would be to give to any large well-known international aid agency that already has a presence in Haiti. They have experience with disasters, they generally know what's wanted, and - more to the point - they find out from the survivors themselves what's wanted beforehand. But please beware of small-scale operations that organise collections of food and clothes to be sent out on an ad hoc basis. Even though established with the best of intentions, the stuff they send is often inappropriate and clog up the system.
	__________________ I could be wrong. But that's extremely unlikely.

13th January 2010, 08:46 AM	#22
sylvan8798 Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,505	Originally Posted by Scott Haley I want to donate money to help the Hatians. Is the Red Cross the group to give it to? I remember the scandal when donations to help 9/11 victims weren't all used for that. I support Doctors WIthout Borders, which works around the world. Apparently all 3 of their Haitian hospitals have collapsed and been abandoned, and the doctors are working in parking lots.

13th January 2010, 08:58 AM	#23
grayman Happy-go-lucky Heretic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Casa del Whacko Posts: 6,142	From PZ Meyer's blog a link to this comment: Quote: Pat Robertson on CBN just said Haiti has had so many troubles bc they swore an oath 2 the Devil in 19th c. 2 free them from the French. #WTF
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13th January 2010, 09:11 AM	#24
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,782	Port Au Prince is in ruins. The death toll is going to be staggering. Yeah, gallows humor is not appropriate. Yeah, the way the media is making this an "event" is pretty obnoxious. Next step, some showbiz "Celeb" flying to Hispanola to show his concern. I am sure Sean Penn,who has a history of this, is on his way now.

13th January 2010, 09:18 AM	#25
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,782	Originally Posted by WildCat That's a powerful earthquake. I didn't know Haiti was so seismically active. The whole Carribean is an seismic danger zone. The destruction of Port Royale in Jamaica and Mount Pele show that. And one area which is going to have a devestating earthquake one day, because they are so totally unprepared for it, is the Mississippi valley. They forget about the biggest earthquake in US recorded history happened there circa 1806. And that is just a few seconds ago in seismic time.

13th January 2010, 09:35 AM	#26
Vorticity Fluid Mechanic Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 2,644	Originally Posted by grayman From PZ Meyer's blog a link to this comment: Jesus *********** Christ, Robertson is becoming the Phelps of television. 'God hates Haiti'. Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment.
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13th January 2010, 09:36 AM	#27
Vorticity Fluid Mechanic Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 2,644	CNN is now reporting a death toll in the hundreds of thousands.
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13th January 2010, 09:38 AM	#28
grayman Happy-go-lucky Heretic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Casa del Whacko Posts: 6,142	Originally Posted by Vorticity * Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment. True that. If corroboration is made I'm sure it will be reported.
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13th January 2010, 09:44 AM	#29
Alareth Expert Expertologist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 6,671	Originally Posted by Vorticity Jesus *********** Christ, Robertson is becoming the Phelps of television. 'God hates Haiti'. Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment. Pat makes the comment around the 6 minute mark here

13th January 2010, 09:45 AM	#30
Vorticity Fluid Mechanic Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 2,644	Originally Posted by Vorticity Jesus *********** Christ, Robertson is becoming the Phelps of television. 'God hates Haiti'. Caveat: Assuming he really made the comment. But then, of course, this kind of thing doesn't really matter. The Red Cross is mobilizing. You can make a donation online right now via this link. ETA: Says P.Z. Myers: Quote: If it makes you angry, turn your outrage into something constructive and use it to motivate you to donate to Haitian relief first. Deal with the evil scumbag Robertson later. Yeah.
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13th January 2010, 09:49 AM	#31
JihadJane Penultimate Satisfaction Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 42,688	From the White House Blog: ~~~~~~~~~ You can also help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contribute online here, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999." ~~~~~~~~~
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13th January 2010, 10:19 AM	#32
bethysunport Scholar Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 73	Originally Posted by sylvan8798 I support Doctors WIthout Borders, which works around the world. Apparently all 3 of their Haitian hospitals have collapsed and been abandoned, and the doctors are working in parking lots. A friend of mine is going to Haiti on a Doctors Without Borders mission in February, I wonder if they'll be going now.
bethysunport Scholar Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 73

13th January 2010, 10:21 AM	#33
Nursefoxfire Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,197	Originally Posted by bethysunport A friend of mine is going to Haiti on a Doctors Without Borders mission in February, I wonder if they'll be going now. There's a link on their main page where people can donate: http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

13th January 2010, 10:36 AM	#34
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,782	And the country might be going into total chaos. This is going to be one of those situations where even Angels of Mercy need Military Escorts.

13th January 2010, 10:37 AM	#35
Vorticity Fluid Mechanic Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 2,644	Originally Posted by dudalb And the country might be going into total chaos. This is going to be one of those situations where even Angels of Mercy need Military Escorts. Along those lines: Quote: Edmond Mulet, the U.N. assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, told CNN that the National Penitentiary collapsed and the inmates escaped, prompting worries about looting by escapees. Built in 1915, the prison was overcrowded. Enlarged to a total capacity of 1,200, it held 3,908 inmates in December, the U.S. State Department has said. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americ...ake/index.html
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