7.0 quake hits Haiti; could be 'catastrophe,' official says

I'm hoping for the best for everyone there. Something like this is a tragedy in a real way.

This is awful for the people of that country. Their infrastructure could be shot completely.

I have quite a few hatian friends so I've been checking on this

Very sad, hope aid reaches them quickly. :pity:

U.S. sending rescue teams to stricken Haiti

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The U.S. on Tuesday was dispatching disaster rescue teams to earthquake-stricken Haiti, where a U.S. official said a "serious loss of life" was expected.

President Barack Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with the people of Haiti and that the U.S. stood ready to help the impoverished Caribbean nation.

The State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Southern Command have started to coordinate. USAID said it was sending a disaster assistance response team and had activated its partners, the Fairfax County (Va.) Urban Search and Rescue Team and the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue Team. USAID disaster experts also would assist.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said from Honolulu that the U.S. was gathering information about the quake and its impact, and that the U.S. was offering full assistance — civilian and military — to Haiti.

"Our embassy is also trying to make contact with the Haitian government," Duguid said late Tuesday. "There are emergency meetings going on right now in Washington to identify assets that can be moved quickly into the area. U.S. search and rescue teams have been put on alert, and we are trying to assess the status of the airport. As President Obama has said, we will assist in any way we can."

I had heard the news, but it really hit home when I saw the dome of the Presidential Palace toppled. I'm sure that many of us, living, being from, or having connections to Miami must know people directly affected.

May G-d help them and guide the helpers.

Here's the team that we're standing:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1263147891096&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

IDF medical teams are preparing to spend two weeks in Haiti and to see an average of 500 patients a day, Chief IDF Medical Corps Officer Brig.-Gen. Nahman Ash said Thursday, a day after a devastating earthquake ripped through the country on Wednesday.

The delegation will consist of 121 members, including 40 doctors and five search-and-rescue teams. The delegation will lift off on two planes at 8 p.m. from Ben-Gurion International Airport.

Ash said that the field hospital would likely be set up in an area in or around the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and would remain for at least two weeks.

You know it's bad when you see dead bodies lining the streets and people walking by not paying any attention. Horrific...

Whoever can help, please do so. Eveything counts.
And hopefully the IDF team helps. They're used to similar situations