7.0 Quake in Haiti

[The Village Idiot]

The Northridge quake in L.A. and the S.F. one really fugged' up the only super thick concrete structures there, I.E. the freeway.

I remember the double decker becoming an auto sandwich.

I also remember some rethug came up with a plan to pay contractors more the faster they rebuilt it. I don't know how that happened in Lala Land but it was done in record time if I remember correctly.

[Aaron Burr]

It was done in LA. And it worked. In SF we simply tore down the freeways. In Oakland, they were still rebuilding even after LA finished. Hell, the Bay Bridge still hasn't even been properly rebuilt yet and the new one looks like it may still be years away from completion. Nothin' like good ol' union labor.

[The Village Idiot]

It was done in LA. And it worked. In SF we simply tore down the freeways. In Oakland, they were still rebuilding even after LA finished. Hell, the Bay Bridge still hasn't even been properly rebuilt yet and the new one looks like it may still be years away from completion. Nothin' like good ol' union labor.

I am sure leftists consider it wasteful to complete a project early, all those poor workers having to find something else to do. All that taxpayer money left unspent. lol

In Dallas when there is a wreck on the highway the dispatcher calls a tow service from a list, in order. If the first does not show up in 30 minutes, they call the next one.... obviously this means major backups and headaches for communters. In Houston, its first come first serve. Thats called incentive, and it works. Its about the only thing they do right in Houston, the godforsaken city.

[Aaron Burr]

Reanimate Sam and get to work.

But about those building codes...

The way it works is that some bureaucratic pole smoker sets the standard for what is considered "safe". Since a bureaucrat is making the rules, they can be changed. Just like what happened on the new bay bridge. See, the loyal patriots in SF decided to buy all this structural steel from Chiner. Turns out 80% of the welds didn't pass inspection. Sooo, SF and Cali decided to lower the acceptable standards so now only 60% of the welds fail.

So if our wicked awesome nation can't get it right, I really don't think the Haitians ever really had a shot at survival from the get go.

[IassaFTots]

So if our wicked awesome nation can't get it right, I really don't think the Haitians ever really had a shot at survival from the get go.

Yup.  And yeah I saw that you wanted PR smoted.  I concur.   

I heard that people were being medivac-ed to Gitmo, because it was the closet place in the area for medical treatment. 

Those poor Haitians.  Last week they had nothing, and this week they have less than that.  Breaks my heart. 

[SilverOrchid]

I wonder what Hollywood plans to do.

[thundley4]

I wonder what Hollywood plans to do.

Brad and Angelina have donated $1M. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20336713,00.html

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's foundation is contributing $1 million to the emergency medical operation responding to the devastating 7.0-magnitude quake in Haiti.

"It is incredibly horrible to see a catastrophe of this size hit a people who have been suffering from extreme poverty, violence and unrest for so many decades," says Jolie.

Adds Pitt: "We understand the first response is critical to serve the immediate needs of countless people who are now displaced from their homes, are suffering trauma, and most require urgent care."

The Jolie-Pitt Foundation is donating the funds to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontiéres, whose three hospitals in Port-au-Prince were severely damaged, forcing the staff to work out of open-air hospitals.

[IassaFTots]

Brad and Angelina have donated $1M. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20336713,00.html

Not a shock.  They might be moonbats, but they do walk the walk when it comes to being charitable.

[Celtic Rose]

Not a shock.  They might be moonbats, but they do walk the walk when it comes to being charitable.

That they do.  Wouldn't it be nice if all the other multi-millionaires in Hollywood would follow their example. 

[SilverOrchid]

Not a shock.  They might be moonbats, but they do walk the walk when it comes to being charitable.

Brad Pitt helped build some of those house in NO. It is a something he really likes doing. I don't mind that couple.

[IassaFTots]

That they do.  Wouldn't it be nice if all the other multi-millionaires in Hollywood would follow their example. 

Yeah.  I guess they just do it from within.  I especially like how they act pretty low key about it all, and try not to draw attention to themselves.  Refreshing indeed.

[SilverOrchid]

That they do.  Wouldn't it be nice if all the other multi-millionaires in Hollywood would follow their example. 

They will wear useless ribbons at the next award show.

[thundley4]

They will wear useless ribbons at the next award show.

And they will implore their fans to donate money.

[ColonialMarine0431]

U.S. Response to Haitian Quake ....


01/13/2010 - Two 270-foot U.S. Coast Guard cutters sit offshore near Haiti in preparation to provide humanitarian aid to the earthquake-ravaged country on Jan, 13, 2010. Coast Guard personnel have been mobilized to provide support to Haiti following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.


01/13/2010 - U.S. Navy sailors transport an injured U.S. citizen from a Coast Guard helicopter to the Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Jan. 13, 2010. The American, an employee of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was injured during a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.

Conway: 22nd MEU tapped for earthquake relief
The Marine Corps will send the North Carolina-based 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to earthquake-ravaged Haiti as part of an extensive U.S. relief plan for the island nation, the service’s top officer said Thursday.

Commandant Gen. James Conway, speaking at a Surface Navy Association symposium outside Washington, confirmed that the unit will deploy from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to the Caribbean nation aboard several amphibious ships that were ordered to prepare for deployment Wednesday. The aircraft carrier Carl Vinson is expected to arrive sometime Thursday, becoming the first major Navy ship to arrive in the devastated country.
FULL STORY IN MARINE CORPS TIMES


The 22nd MEU will deploy to Haiti to aid in the earthquake relief effort, Commandant Gen. James Conway said Jan. 14.

More than 900 soldiers bound for Haiti
WASHINGTON — The first Army troops are heading to Haiti on Thursday as the military ramps up what Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called a major effort to provide earthquake relief.

The first group of soldiers — about 100 — from the 82nd Airborne Division will leave later Thursday, the Army said. The troops will find locations to set up tents and other essentials in preparation for the arrival of another roughly 800 personnel from the division Friday.

They come on top of some 2,200 Marines, also to be sent, as the military prepares to help with security needs, search and rescue and the delivery of humanitarian supplies. More than a half dozen U.S. military ships also are expected to help, with the largest, the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, arriving Thursday.
FULL STORY

Airmen providing relief after Haiti quake
Special tactics officers from Air Force Special Operations Command said Thursday their teams were in control of operations at Haiti's main airport.

Lt. Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for the command, said airmen had cleared runways, established 24-hour air traffic control and have weather systems and airport lighting up and running.
FULL STORY

3 amphibs to leave Virginia today for Haiti   
The amphibious assault ship Bataan and dock landing ships Fort McHenry and Carter Hall will get underway this afternoon from Hampton Roads to conduct humanitarian relief exercises in preparation for Haiti relief efforts, Navy officials said.

Together with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, the force will total more than 3,600 sailors and Marines.

Bataan is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk. Fort McHenry and Carter Hall are homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va.

The carrier Carl Vinson and its crew of about 3,200 sailors left Norfolk on Tuesday en route to their new homeport in San Diego. It was rerouted Wednesday and is expected to arrive off the coast of Haiti today. It will load equipment and supplies in preparation for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
FULL STORY

[USA4ME]

I had heard flights going in and out of Port au Prince were being diverted to the Domician Republic and others were being put in long holding patterns before they could land.  For those interested, the airport identifier is MTPP, and below is a link to a flight that was put on hold,  You can see it in the window, and by tracking the log, you can see they had to hold for almost 2 hours off one of the southern Bahama Islands.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N811DE/history/20100114/1605Z/KOPF/MTPP

By typing MTPP into the airport code on the left, you can observe what places are coming into help and from where as well as all departures.

.

[The Village Idiot]

I had heard flights going in and out of Port au Prince were being diverted to the Domician Republic and others were being put in long holding patterns before they could land.  For those interested, the airport identifier is MTPP, and below is a link to a flight that was put on hold,  You can see it in the window, and by tracking the log, you can see they had to hold for almost 2 hours off one of the southern Bahama Islands.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N811DE

By typing MTPP into the airport code on the left, you can observe what places are coming into help and from where as well as all departures.

I hear aid planes had to wait behind press planes and aid copters wait for press copters.

[debk]

Earlier Fox reported that once the US AF took over the airport it would make things much easier.

It must have worked because the airport has landing strip lights tonight and planes are landing and taking off.

[rich_t]

That is so sad. My prayers for everyone in that area.

I posted this on my FB but this is a link if anyone wants to donate to the Hati earthquake relief fund. www.unicefusa.org

The UN ain't getting a damn dime outta me.

[debk]

Our church has a sister parish in Haiti.....here is information about it from one of our local tv stations..........if anyone wants to contribute.....at least I know this is authentic....

http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=11817997

[IassaFTots]

I sent mine to Compassion International, and Doctors Without Borders.  Funny.  I heard CHINA gave 1 million.  Hmmmmmm....didn't we just hear that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie just gave 1 million???

[Chris]

FBI: Beware of Haiti relief-effort scams

More than 400 Internet addresses related to Haiti have been registered since Monday's devastating quake, Internet security expert Joel Esler said.

• Don't click on links or open attachments contained within aid-related spam.

• Check out the organization at sites for the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org), foundationcen ter.org or charitynavigator.org.

• Examine the Web address of purported groups. Avoid ones that end in a series of numbers.

• Be extremely skeptical of Web sites asking for personal information, such as a Social Security number, birth date or bank account information -- it could go to identity thieves.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1992299,CST-NWS-haitifraud15.article

A radio interview with the TN Better Business Bureau this morning said the number of websites related to the earthquake has risen to 2000.

[vesta111]

I sent mine to Compassion International, and Doctors Without Borders.  Funny.  I heard CHINA gave 1 million.  Hmmmmmm....didn't we just hear that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie just gave 1 million???

I do hope we will handle this better then the Indonesia crisis's was handled.  We need to have some idea of what these people need.  Millions of dollars were thrown away shipping useless stuff to Indonesia.

These people need clothing suitable for their climate they do not need winter coats, snow boots, knit hats or gloves.    They have no use for dress shoes high heels or suit coats.

They need tarps and tents, cooking pots and pans that can be placed on an open fire, COTTON clothing, not polyester, flip flops for their feet.  The stuff we take for granted, safety pins, sewing kits,  plastic covered containers to protect their food from the rodents and water storage.

Sanitation devices, cloth diapers, nothing disposable as there will be a calling card for disease, bugs and animal life.

Then they need HOPE, Haiti is a Catholic country and the Church could send those boxes of plastic Rosary Beads that are handed out by the thousands at the January March in DC. Humans have a need for something tangable to hold in their hands, prayer beads are comforting and raise the spirit.

 The Church's could open the doors of their seminary's world wide and send the students there to not just watch but to WORK, hands on labor with the people. Eat with the people, sleep on the ground with the people, suffer with the people.

Governments and their citizens can send money by the ton and rebuild the country, make it much better then it was before, but, it is up to all faiths to send  those that aspire to lead in their faith to do hands on work with the people that need faith just as much as they need food.

To be told that the Pope is praying for us in a disaster is fine and dandy, what gives me hope is a young man or woman who are learning to represent their faith  that is on the spot helping to deliver baby's, lugging buckets from the well, getting their hands dirty as they most likely never will have to do again in their lives.

One of the last areas on earth that Christians are REALLY needed, all kinds of Christians, they are not needed to preach, they are not needed to convert, they are needed to show by their ACTS and willingness to become one of them even for a short time that faith can move mountains.

 

[The Village Idiot]

Does the Haiti Olympic Bobsled Team need a new set of goggles?

just kidding.

[vesta111]

Does the Haiti Olympic Bobsled Team need a new set of goggles?

just kidding.

 

No but we could gather up ice skates for the wanna-be ice skaters, I think Sparky has a pair of snow shoes to send.     Hats are needed, I have one that says "old fartttt on it and one with moose horns.  What the heck, stuff is tax deductable, I have a snow blower and rims for a 1985 Camaro that should bring joy to someone.   

Seriously, my cousin is an engineer that builds bridges in Haiti, the area is a mess, people live in the rain forest and have to walk 40 miles to get to a doctor.   These bridges cut off the time to about 3 miles.   

Haiti is a totally out of our conception of civilization. you do know that this country is the birth of VOO-DOO brought from Yoruba in Africa.   

An anthropologists dream come true,  the morphing of the life styles of the today and way back yesterday.

Interesting place, so close to technology and yet the woman in some parts still carry water jugs on their heads.

There is one Charity that interests me, the Doctors and Nurses without boundaries,   I have heard there were allready 500 people in that country and the overseeres of the Charity do not live in million dollar homes.

Just checked my closet and found a working Karaoke machine and tapes.   I could bundle it all up with the toaster oven I no longer use, a Vacuum that works, and the Slap Shot I bought and send it all to Haiti, big tax deduction for me.

  Now I can feel all a Rosy glow about my sacrifices for others, dang it must feel good to be able to send a million dollars to help out.   Tax time comes and that donation just may save YOUR SKIN.



 

[Aaron Burr]

Look, lets just start calling this disaster "Haitrina", and start taking advantage of this crisis. Opportunities like this don't come around often enough.

Did Obama cause this earthquake because he hates dark skinned "Negros" with an accented dialect?

Gah.