News hits the airwaves and we sometimes stop for a moment and feel our heart race, or pause. More so maybe we someone we love is involved. My old roommate and her husband are in Haiti right now. In another area of the country I have a good friend serving. Elsewhere, two more mates from college/uni days. They serve amongst the poorest of the poor, many of whom just became poorer. Read on.
IDES Is Preparing to Help Earthquake Survivors
On Tuesday afternoon, January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti at 4:53PM local time.
The quake's epicenter was just 10 miles southwest of Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince. The city and surrounding communities sustained heavy damage.
Reliable statistics reflecting the number killed and injured are not yet available, but the U.S. State Department and numerous international observers are reporting significant loss of life.
While it is still too early to detail specific projects, IDES is urgently seeking disaster relief funds, which will be utilized by our project partners to meet needs in Jesus' name.
All gifts designated "Haiti Earthquake" will be used 100% to care for survivors and aid in the recovery effort.
This was the most powerful earthquake to strike Haiti in over a century.
As the ground began to tremble, thousands of people ran screaming into the streets in a state of utter panic. Even as the shaking subsided, further panic ensued as it became clear that neighbors and loved ones were trapped in the fallen rubble.
The earthquake and numerous aftershocks collapsed buildings, toppled debris into roadways, and knocked out electrical service throughout most of the capital. Phone lines into the country failed soon afterward. Tuesday evening was a night of near-total darkness in the streets of Port-au-Prince.
Many of Port-au-Prince's residents have constructed their homes on steep hillsides. The concrete block and clay brick construction methods most widely used are inherently unstable in the event of an earthquake. Many eye witnesses report widespread building collapse, and bodies trapped beneath rubble.
One indicator of the damage caused to buildings and other structures was a huge plume of dust which rose up over the city, obscuring the view from surrounding hillsides for about 20 minutes.
Traffic around the city was snarled as fallen debris blocked many of the roadways, impeding rescue efforts and preventing many of the injured from reaching hospitals and clinics.
Numerous aftershocks have been felt, two of them registering above 5.5 on the Richter scale.
Damage to buildings has been reported as far away as Les Cayes (140 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince).
Haiti has long been recognized as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and the people have few resources to begin the recovery effort. Much help will be needed.
One of our partner missions in Gonaives is preparing to send Haitian volunteers into the affected area to render assistance once the authorities permit them to enter.
Funds to assist in the relief effort can be given through our website or by mailing a check to:
IDES, PO Box 60, Kempton, IN 46049-0060. Please write "Haiti Earthquake" on the memo line.
Thank you for your prayers on behalf of the Haitian people, and for your gifts in this time of great need.
Contact Info
International Disaster Emergency Service
P.O. Box 60
Kempton, IN
46049 USA
765-947-5100
www.ides.org
IDES | P.O. Box 60 | Kempton | IN | 46049 USA
IDES Is Preparing to Help Earthquake Survivors
On Tuesday afternoon, January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti at 4:53PM local time.
The quake's epicenter was just 10 miles southwest of Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince. The city and surrounding communities sustained heavy damage.
Reliable statistics reflecting the number killed and injured are not yet available, but the U.S. State Department and numerous international observers are reporting significant loss of life.
While it is still too early to detail specific projects, IDES is urgently seeking disaster relief funds, which will be utilized by our project partners to meet needs in Jesus' name.
All gifts designated "Haiti Earthquake" will be used 100% to care for survivors and aid in the recovery effort.
This was the most powerful earthquake to strike Haiti in over a century.
As the ground began to tremble, thousands of people ran screaming into the streets in a state of utter panic. Even as the shaking subsided, further panic ensued as it became clear that neighbors and loved ones were trapped in the fallen rubble.
The earthquake and numerous aftershocks collapsed buildings, toppled debris into roadways, and knocked out electrical service throughout most of the capital. Phone lines into the country failed soon afterward. Tuesday evening was a night of near-total darkness in the streets of Port-au-Prince.
Many of Port-au-Prince's residents have constructed their homes on steep hillsides. The concrete block and clay brick construction methods most widely used are inherently unstable in the event of an earthquake. Many eye witnesses report widespread building collapse, and bodies trapped beneath rubble.
One indicator of the damage caused to buildings and other structures was a huge plume of dust which rose up over the city, obscuring the view from surrounding hillsides for about 20 minutes.
Traffic around the city was snarled as fallen debris blocked many of the roadways, impeding rescue efforts and preventing many of the injured from reaching hospitals and clinics.
Numerous aftershocks have been felt, two of them registering above 5.5 on the Richter scale.
Damage to buildings has been reported as far away as Les Cayes (140 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince).
Haiti has long been recognized as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and the people have few resources to begin the recovery effort. Much help will be needed.
One of our partner missions in Gonaives is preparing to send Haitian volunteers into the affected area to render assistance once the authorities permit them to enter.
Funds to assist in the relief effort can be given through our website or by mailing a check to:
IDES, PO Box 60, Kempton, IN 46049-0060. Please write "Haiti Earthquake" on the memo line.
Thank you for your prayers on behalf of the Haitian people, and for your gifts in this time of great need.
Contact Info
International Disaster Emergency Service
P.O. Box 60
Kempton, IN
46049 USA
765-947-5100
www.ides.org
IDES | P.O. Box 60 | Kempton | IN | 46049 USA
Comments