CHS Earthquake Report and Actions
January 12, 2010, 4:53 PM (EST) a 7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes the area of Port-au-Prince,
the capital city of Haiti.
CHS Executive Director, Dr. Laurinus Pierre, is immediately contacted by the Center’s Outreach
Worker stationed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Mr. Marvel Dandin and receives debriefing on unfolding
catastrophe before communication systems became jammed.
Dr. Pierre informed Dr. Barth Green, member of the CHS Board of Directors and President of
Project Medishare, who led the University of Miami’s medical response team. CHS staff stayed in
contact with Haiti until late night on January 12 when some phone lines were still in operation. As
news were coming from Haiti through friends and families and major US media, staff remained at
CHS to answer calls from community members and from local, national and international
newscasts seeking information in the aftermath of the quake.
The days following the quake were particularly hectic at CHS and in the Haitian community in
general. Staff attended several community meetings including one meeting where Vice-President
Joe Biden outlined the plan of the Obama administration to respond to the earthquake.
In keeping with its mission to improve the conditions of the Haitian population of South Florida,
CHS responded to the crisis in Haiti by launching local community coordination and planning for
long term recovery projects including:
CHS has submitted a number of proposals to private organizations, state and federal agencies for
funding local intervention projects. CHS is also requesting funds from private companies and
individuals to organize a trip to Haiti within the next six months for the purpose of improving the
capacity of our partnering organizations in Haiti to face the upcoming health and social challenges.
the capital city of Haiti.
CHS Executive Director, Dr. Laurinus Pierre, is immediately contacted by the Center’s Outreach
Worker stationed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Mr. Marvel Dandin and receives debriefing on unfolding
catastrophe before communication systems became jammed.
Dr. Pierre informed Dr. Barth Green, member of the CHS Board of Directors and President of
Project Medishare, who led the University of Miami’s medical response team. CHS staff stayed in
contact with Haiti until late night on January 12 when some phone lines were still in operation. As
news were coming from Haiti through friends and families and major US media, staff remained at
CHS to answer calls from community members and from local, national and international
newscasts seeking information in the aftermath of the quake.
The days following the quake were particularly hectic at CHS and in the Haitian community in
general. Staff attended several community meetings including one meeting where Vice-President
Joe Biden outlined the plan of the Obama administration to respond to the earthquake.
In keeping with its mission to improve the conditions of the Haitian population of South Florida,
CHS responded to the crisis in Haiti by launching local community coordination and planning for
long term recovery projects including:
- Training on psychological trauma and PTSD (in collaboration with the Department of
Psychiatry of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine),
- Case Management Services for a potential new influx of Haitians from Haiti,
- Collection and shipment of urgently needed medical supplies and equipment to Haiti,
- Assessment of the impact of the earthquake on Haitian Americans living in Little Haiti and
North Miami (in collaboration with the Department of Epidemiology of the University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine),
- Assessment of the conditions in Haiti through sharing of daily reports from the Ministère De
La Santé Publique et De La Population D’Haiti, USAID, The United Nations, The World
Health Organization, UNICEF, National Partnering Organization on the ground and personal
communications with CHS staff on the ground and friends of CHS.
- Coordination with various local organizations including the Florida Department of Children
and Families and the Miami Children’s Hospital on the Haitian orphan situation,
- Provision of information about available culturally competent health and social services
targeting new members of the Haitian Community of South Florida.
CHS has submitted a number of proposals to private organizations, state and federal agencies for
funding local intervention projects. CHS is also requesting funds from private companies and
individuals to organize a trip to Haiti within the next six months for the purpose of improving the
capacity of our partnering organizations in Haiti to face the upcoming health and social challenges.
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| © 2010 Center for Haitian Studies, Inc. All rights reserved. Designed and maintained by Romuald Blanchard |
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