U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Wilburn guides U.S. personnel affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti to a waiting HC-130 Hercules aircraft in Port-Au-Prince Haiti, Jan. 13, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Mariana O'Leary
Jan. 14, 2010
America’s rapid and heartfelt response in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti has been astounding.
Military assets have been sent there and ongoing efforts are under way to provide disaster relief. U.S. relief and rescue workers also are on the ground providing support.
President Barack Obama today called Haiti a “top priority,” pledging to stand by the nation in its hour of need.
“American stands with you. The world stands with you,” he said. “We know you are a strong and resilient people. You have endured a history of slavery and struggle and natural disaster and recovery. Through it all, your spirit has been unbroken and your faith unwavering. Today, you must know that help is arriving and much more help is on the way.”
It’s tough for me to stand by and just watch, but there are many ways to assist, even from a distance.
If you’re interested in helping, text “HAITI” to “90999″ and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.
If you wish to make other donations, you can go online to organizations, such as the Red Cross and MercyCorps, to contribute to disaster relief efforts.
For information on missing U.S. citizen family members, call 1-888-407-4747.
For more on the Haiti crisis, visit the American Forces Press Service Web special, Haiti Earthquake Relief.