I felt the quake fairly strong here in Santo Domingo. It did not hit with a
hard jolt or shake windows as we have all felt in California. I just
suddenly felt like I had vertigo and then noticed the furniture rocking back
and forth and it went on for about 20-30 seconds. We are about 160 mi from
Port au Prince, I have been there multiple times, but the city where I
usually work is Cap Haitian about 80 mi to the north.
The lack of infrastructure and grinding poverty in Port au Prince under
normal circumstances is appalling. It is difficult to imagine decimation,
suffering, and chaos that is going on at the moment. By land Port au Prince
is about a 5 hour drive. We are standing by to help and will likely
mobilize as soon as it is possible to travel with the security and
infrastructure of an organization.
Obviously they need our prayers and help.
Scott
Karen adds:
Dr Scott Nelson is leaving tomorrow for Haiti with a small surgery team (anesthetist and nurse) , preparing their equipment today for very probable amputations (the most likely scenario for them.) We don't have time to get funds to them for this first trip. But he'll be coming back and going again and taking a larger team, so at that time they'll need donations for medical aid. They just got a big donation of medicines today from an agency so they can take them along tomorrow!
If anyone wants to send a donation for Dr. Scott Nelson (who is an orthopedic surgeon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) Amistad will hold them until Dr. Nelson goes on the next relief trip to Haiti.
