Sad for Haiti...

[Gerry]

Comments like that can easily get you killed - even if they are the truth.

One was trying to put on a show broadcasting from the back of a relief truck and he almost got knocked down by the crowd trying to get to the truck. Some of these made for tv moments are going to get ugly.

[tekz999]

Our family has already donated to red cross. What about you guys?!

[draggar]

Our family has already donated to red cross. What about you guys?!

I give blood every 2 months (like clockwork) - they should be back to my office in the next week or two.

I texted Haiti to 90999

Don't ask about all the other charitable contributions we do.

[Gerry]

Aside from donating, myself and a few people I know have been in contact with the Navy. The USNSComfort, the hospital ship, just left Baltimore enroute to Haiti. The staff on board that ship were pulled out of Bethesda Naval Station.

I have made myself available to them to either assist with Staffing the ship or going to Bethesda, MD for relief. There are, of course, restrictions in place regarding naval and military personnel but civilians are also employed on the ship and Naval stations. The ship is a 250 bed floating hospital. Getting authorized for the ship or naval hospital would not be a problem as I am a vet and relief staffed during the first gulf war.

The immediate need on the ground in Haiti is going to be for surgeons. There are going to be countless amputations performed. Unfortunately, many tough decisions will have to be made regarding amputation vs. death from infection, clots, or gangrene. As one surgeon put it, it is like performing surgery during the civil war.

Once better equipped hospitals get on the ground, then there will be a need for other medical staff to not only perform other surgical procedure but also for post-op surgical care. I am a CardioPulmonary specialist so, for now, my services are far down the priority list.

Additionally, a very close friend and colleague is now CEO of a hospital in Northern Florida. I have been speaking with him on the phone a couple of times. Myself and several other people we have both worked with would go to assist and augment his staff if he was tapped to take in some of the injured. We have little doubt that Florida would become a primary front line of health services for the injured from this region. All flights to and out of Haiti are now being coordinated on the ground at Homestead, Florida. Planes arrive with supplies and then leave with evacuees and the injured. Unquestionably, this is going to be the norm for several weeks to come.

[draggar]

OK, this is scary now:

1) Haiti just had a 6.1 magnitude aftershock (in the past hour)

2) The Caymans had a 5.8 yesterday

3) A 5.8 magnitude off of the coast of Guatemala & El Salvador happened yesterday or the day before

4) A 4.7 magnitude in Panama near the border of Costa Rica happened yesterday

I don't think I've ever seen this much activity in the Caribbean sea - it looks like the whole plate is on the move.

the entire North and South American Pacific coast is a subduction zone (like what caused the 2004 earthquake / tsunami) except small areas (along Panama and from central Mexico to northern California). This will put a lot of stress on that area especially along the Central American / Mexican coast. It's also loosening the stress along the subduction zones along the Lesser Antilles / Windward Islands and the coasts of Columbia and Venezuela.

[Gerry]

OK, this is scary now:

There is a fault lying along the Atlantic coast off the coast of the Carolinas.

Scientist have warned in the past that this "shelf" could (would) one day suffer from seismic activity, collapse, slide deeper into the ocean, and create a massive tsunami hitting the carolina coast and points all up along the northern atlantic coast.

As for Haiti and the other isles down there, well...unfortunately it happens to be their turn riding the tectonic plates.

[draggar]

I noticed all the pan handlers here now have "FOR HAITI RELIEF" written on their cups.

That makes me sick.

[Gerry]

I noticed all the pan handlers here now have "FOR HAITI RELIEF" written on their cups.

entrepreneurship

[draggar]

entrepreneurship

Scam. You think these people claiming that they need the handouts to live all of a sudden decide to take a collection for Haiti relief?