Haiti – Earthquake

Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Before and After the Earthquake

The National Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

An aerial view of the damaged National Cathedral in Haiti from a U.S. Air Force Global Hawk unmanned aircraft Jan. 14. Aerial images are providing U.S. military planners valuable situation awareness as they coordinate U.S. military support to the Haiti relief effort.

(Release by U.S. Southern Command)

The National Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Before the Earthquake – it towered over the city

Gone now, and will it the Archbishop who was killed in the collapse

The tragedy that is the earthquake in Haiti will be will us for a long time.  It is doubtful that much in this country is structurally sound, and the death toll and mass graves will continue to grow.  Government is a fragile and propped up entity, consuming millions of dollars in aid and having little to show for it in this country of 10 million people.

The capitol, Port-au-Prince, is all but destroyed.  The Presidential Palace, the Parliament Building, the National Cathedral, the UN Mission, the US Embassy, the missionary hospitals, schools and compounds, the prison – symbols of the societal structure are all gone.  There is little, if any housing left in tact.  There is no resource for food and water, since most Haitians in Port-au-Prince were dependent upon the structures that are gone.

Unknown is the devestation to the outlying areas of the majority of the country.  Hopefully, the farm land areas have fared better and will be able to feed themselves.

This will be a money and resource pit for some time to come.  Looting and gangland rivalries will create a dangerous atmosphere.  The prisoners who escaped during the destruction of the the facility are free to wreak havoc.  There is no law and order and no reports of a police presence.  I hope that it does not fall to the US military and endanger our fine young people.  Distribution of food and water is a difficult and dangerous thing.

Americans, once again, will dump money to make themselves feel generous.  These are the same people that won’t walk next door and check on the elderly lady to be sure she is all right after a snow storm.  Of course, our tax payer dollars are providing untold millions to the island nation, in addition to the cost of the military and the equipment, ships and planes they are bringing to the situation.  We will, once again, give more than our share.

For those of you who are determined to give your money to Haiti, PLEASE – check the charity out on the Charity Watch sites – does the money go to administrative costs (like the American Red Cross), does the money go to the general fund of the charity for them to determine the use (like the American Red Cross), does the money actually go to the people of Haiti?

And, if you are so charitable, might I remind you that there are Americans in need as well.  You might want to help at home, too.