Earthquake in Haiti

As we know, Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti was one of the most devastating natural disasters in history, and it couldn't have happened to a more impoverished nation to start with. Most of us have probably seen the horrific pictures on the news cycle. With tens of thousands dead (I've heard estimates of up to 100,000) and many multiples of that displaced from their homes, Haiti needs as much help as possible right now.

It struck particularly close to home for me, living on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, a country that borders Haiti. I live a few hours away from Port-au-Prince. I had just returned from work that afternoon and felt violent shaking in my apartment for about 10 seconds. People were pretty freaked out here, with many packing up their cars and heading for higher ground. I decided to stay put and keep the news on my TV. There was a Tsunami warning issued shortly after the earthquake, so it was a pretty nerve racking few hours. Turns out we were safe over here, but it boggles my mind just how much devastation there was just a short ways away from where I live.

Anyways, if you do choose to donate, even just $10, here are a few trustworthy options:

https://secure.oxfamamerica.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3560&3560.donation=form1

http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=28833&tid=001

http://pih.org/home2.html

https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197

I was thinking of you Ben when i heard...don't know anyone else in that area. Figured you were safe since they showed where the main damage was. Still, to shake for 10 seconds is bad. Probably felt more like 30 minutes when it first happen i bet. Never been in an earthquake myself and don't want to be. That's why i live in boring CT.



Mark

Good to hear everything is OK with you.

As far away as he was, it probably wasn't too bad. I was on the 29th floor of a building in downtown Oakland when the 6.9 quake hit the San Fran area in 1989. Because the building has shock absorbers, I have no idea when the actual shaking stopped because the building kept swaying back and forth for a long time. Quakes have never bothered me. For some reason, I find them quite soothing and relaxing.

Jay