American Morning
Weary Haitians face another day of searching in quake's aftermath
Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) - Their clothes tattered and caked in dirt, their backs sore from clawing through concrete and debris, residents in earthquake-flattened Port-au-Prince waited Thursday for signs that help is on its way.
They slept out in the open on mattresses and cardboard boxes. Those whose homes hadn't been reduced to rubble refused to go inside, fearing aftershocks that could send the structures tumbling.
Some sang and clapped to keep their spirits up. Others wailed. The sounds of gunshots sometimes pierced the air.
"Hundreds of people are all hunkered down for the night, passing time and burning tires to light up the night," Gwenn Goodale Mangin said in the city of Jacmel.
The city - like Port-au-Prince, the capital 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, and other communities in the impoverished island-nation - has been without power and water since Tuesday's devastating 7.0-magnitude quake.
The quake affected roughly one in three Haitians - about 3 million people, the Red Cross estimated. It was so strong that it was felt in Cuba, more than 200 miles away.
"I watched as house after house just pancaked down, right in front of my eyes," said Bob Poff of the Salvation Army, who was driving a pickup down a mountain, into Port-au-Prince, at the time.
Felix Augustin, the Haitian consul general to the United Nations, said more than 10,000 were dead, but President Rene Preval said it was too early to put a number to the casualties.
Government officials feared the death toll might eventually run into the six figures
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Good morning guys.
I want the people of Haiti to know that I have not forgotten them. That I pray to My Father everyday for miracles among so much despair. And through these Miracles let hope touch every living soul so their Spirit rejoices in the Lord. And, a New Day Begins upon the Earth.
to me the whole world should try their outmost best to help the people of haiti and remember this is a wake up call
I thing CNN and the other networks have done a terrible disservice to the Haitian rescue efforts by sending in such large teams of reporters and crews. The airport, places to stay, all resources, are already overloaded. The last thing they need are swarms of news people. I think this would have been the perfect time for all the news organizations – broadcast and print – to use the type of "pool" approach that is sometimes used when the President travels. Have one set of designated reporters and crew who broadcast and write back to be shared by ALL the media.
Do as Gen (Ret) Honore' says...Use the military with their trucks, other resources, etc. so they can move the big rocks, boulders out of the way so they can deliver the medicine, food, etc. People that are not buried under debris are going to really panic and chaos is going to set in if it is not done soon.
Civilians have no idea of what to do logistically. These people need help now....
My son and I were watching the CNN American Morning today and were wondering if any Muslim countries are sending aid and people to assist the people of Haiti? We always hear about Russia, The European Union and the United States providing money, supplies and support to help when there is devastation but we never hear of Muslim countries doing the same. Is is because they aren't or because we just aren't reporting it. According to some, not all Muslim countries we are 'Bad People' but if we are so 'bad' then we should just say cest la vie when something happens and let the people in need fend for themselves. This type of non-reporting, if that is what is happening, is helping to fuel the prejudices against the Muslim community. If they are'nt helping people in need then who really is the 'bad' person. I can not understand anyone that sees people in need just saying 'so what' and not helping no matter what religion they are. Wish I were better with words so that my point could be clearer.
TO: AM FIX
FROM: TRILLIONAIRE -TRILSEN
PROVIDED EVERYTHING GOES AS PLANNED TOMMORROW....
WITH THE PRESIDENT...
RIGHT NOW I WAS LOOKING AT THE DEVASTION ON THE HAITIAN ISLAND...NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS INCREDIBLE...
I AM SITTING AT THE COMPUTER TRYING TO SEE IF I CAN FIND
A WAY TO CONTACT CATEPPILLAR AND EARTHMOVING DEALERS
AS WELL AS THEIR SALES AND LEASE-CEOS-
I WOULD WANT TO CHECK AND TALK WITH THE NEAREST PLACES
TO PORT THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT FLORIDA TEXAS LOUSIANA
ALABAMA ANY WHERE ELSE ON THE MAIN LAND OF AMERICA I COULD GET THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR DEBRIS MOVEMENT
GET IT ON A SHIP GET IT TO THE ISLAND
THE SIMPLE FACT HURRICANE ARE FREQUENT AND THAT A PLACE YOU DONT WANT TO BE WITH A HURRICANE OF CAT 2
OR BETTER...AND EVEN TROPICAL STROMS PACK ENOUGH
PUNCH TO YOU COULD NOT BE UNCOVERED AT ALL IN THE COMING MONTHS
WHICH LEADS TO SECOND FACT THAT WE ARE TO HAVE EVACUATE THAT ISALND TO SOME DEGREE..RIGHT
STRUCTRAL INSPECTORS-ENGINEERS WILL NEED TO
START INDENTIFING BUILDINGS THAT ARE DYSFUNCTIONAL
MOVE THE DEBRIS....
YOU WILL ALSO NEED A SHIP TO TAKE AWAY DEBRIS...
A SHIP DECK BIG ENOUGH....LIKE THEY USE ON THE MISSISSPPI
FOR COAL AND OTHER RAW MATERIALS OR EVEN AN AIRCRAFT
CARRIER...I KNOW IT CRAZY IT RUIN THE FLIGHT DECK..... BUT IT
HAS THE SPACE TO DUE WHAT IT NEED FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL
YOU ARE PROBRABLY GOING TO USE THAT DEBRIS...WILL PROBRABLY BECOME AN UNDER WATER BARRIER REEF...
THAT THE EASIEST WAY TO REMOVE AND ROMOVE...
BELIEVE ME THAT A PLACE YOU DONT WANT TO BE IN A STRONG
STORM..
EVACUATE ALL SERIOUSLY THE WOUNDED TO SECURE AREA PROBRABLY....
GO AHEAD AND ESTABLISH REFUGEE CAMPS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT GONNA HAPPEN ..IT JUST AN INFLUX OF REFUGEES
GO AHEAD A PREPARE SO THAT ....GET ALL DOCUMENTS THEY CAN
GO AHEAD ORGANIZE TO KEEP ANXIETY DOWN...
ONCE EVERYTHING REALLY SETS AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING
TO DO JUST SURVIVE THEY ALOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO LEAVE
I WOULD...
THE BEST NEXT BEST PREPARE FOR EVACUATION..CAUSE THERE
IS GOING TO BE ALOT PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A NEW START TO AN ALREADY POVERISHED COUNTRY....
THE UNITED STATES SHOULD GO AHEAD PREPARE SAVE FLORIDA/REDUCE HEADACHE CAUSE....
GET INNOCILIZED AND READY TO MEET SOME STANDARDS FOR
IMMIGRATION INTO THE UNITED STATES...MEDICALLY READY
THEY WILL NEED WORK FEVERISHLY TO MOVE AND SECURE
DEBRIS QUICKLY I DONT KNOW WHAT THE HURRICANE FORCAST IS 2010 THEY ARE USUALLY GOOD FOR AT LEAST TWO
TROPICAL STORMS EVERY Y EAR...
I WILL CONTINUE TO SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THAT REGUARD
YOUR GONNA NEED PEOPLE TO OPERATE THAT EQUIPMENT..
THERE ARE SOME UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE OVER HERE IN THE US
AND THE WORLD WITH THAT EXPERIENCE...TO UTILIZE THIS EQUIPMENT
TRILSEN
Dr. Gupta why don't you put the mic down and pitch in your a doctor right
Last night sitting there cowering with your little flash light looking like the buggy man was going to get you.
We can see whats happening how about less talk less start walking the walk start helping out.
While I applaud your coverage of the Haiti Earthquake, I am appauled that I hear Anchors and reporters saying the words "exclusive" and "first".
Please take the high road and not the Foxnews Road! THIS IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVERTISING OR ONEUPSMANSHIP!!
These people are living something none of us can imagine and you are making a sound bite out of their hell.
Please Please Please stop!
Tim Sokol
Myrtle Beach, SC
Dear AM/Fix, 1/14/10
The time of day that the earth quake hit in Haiti was fortunate. Any earlier most people would have still been at work and in doors. Any later and most of the population would have been in for the evening resting.
Sincerely,
Feebe
I just want to vent. Forgive me
Why United Nation?
You knew that Haiti was the poorest nation in the Western World. For so long, why wasn’t anything done? You only gave assistance to the people so that they could “get by”. (short term) Shame on you!!! What about the long term? I am talking about education, resources, infrastructure, etc. Things that get people back on their feet whereby they can take care of themselves in situations like this.
Sure sometimes, the Governments itself is to blame. For decades, the Haitian Government did nothing for the people but lined their pockets. We are talking about the have and the have nots in this Country.
All of this money (aid) that is being sent to this Country now, who is responsible for it? What is going to be done with it? This money should be for infrastructure, stronger buildings, firemen, policemen, hospitals, education for the people of Haiti. This money is not to be placed in the pockets of the rich. This is for the Haitian people and the Country to make life a little better.
You wonder why they get into flimsy, boats; risk their lives to get to the United States. They want a better life than what they have in their own Country, but the US stops them. (US policy) This is a shame to Man and God.