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How can I help in Haiti !! Urgent !!I'm ready to go now !

BigAl

BigAl

Gone But Not Forgotten
Dear FF members , I need your help ASAP. Does anyone know if they need Equipt. Operators in Haitior who I can contact to find out ? .I can pretty much run any type of equipment . I hold Building contractors license and have a General Engineering license too. There is nothing dealing with construction that I cannot do including running large crews .
I am prepared to leave now if anyone knows how me and my wife can help these poor people . Donating money is not enough . We will pay our own way . I am very experienced living in the most remote/harsh conditions .If anyone has any information as to where I can apply and leave now please cotact me .
Allen Hutson
 
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You might try to contact someone with the US State Department or one of the legitimate aids groups listed on the US Government web site (sorry don't have that site saved to post).
 
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I also have "hands on" vast experience in the recovery and burial of the decrease . I also owned a funeral home until I retired in 2000 . I feel this is where I might be of the most use right now . The rebuilding can start after S&R efforts are over.
 
PBinWA said:
Interesting that the Red Cross site basically says that they are not accepting volunteers for Haiti (Click on the Contact Us Links).

I don't know Al - I think you need to be pre-trained/vetted on all this stuff.

I bet they would like a big check though.

Try some of the links that Google spits out:

http://www.google.com/webhp?complet...rce=hp&q=how+can+i+volunteer+to+help+in+haiti
Click to expand...
I am trained , I hold California state Contractors licenses in General Engineering and general Building . I am a certfied Equipment operator with local 3 operating engineers and I hold a valid license as a Funeral director . I have personally been on recovery and burial of many people who have decreased .Theres nothing I have not seen in death . I just want to do more than send money .
 
I was just watching the news. They are in need of medical personal and money. All others will come soon after but right now that's it.
From my view it sure looked like they needed more heavy equipment, w/ operators and food and water.
 
I heard something about heavy equipment coming in from somewhere other than the US but completely due to others talking around me at the time. At any rate I did hear to day the Dominican Republic is also sending heavy equipment and such with them being pretty well equipped.
 
I'm sending out information to every group I can think of . If anyone hears of anyone needing help please contact me here . I can leave anytime .
 
Sadly Al, there are so many dead, they are using mass graves that aren't even marked.

I would contact either the Red Cross, they have an office there... or did. IF so, you may be directed to the correct people to talk to.

I think the big drawback is that they don't have any heavy machinery there to start with.

If you hear of anything, let me know, I can drive just about anything.
 
You're THE MAN my Poobah.
I could only wish that I had the heart, skills and gumption you do.
 
Al, I wonder if some local (here) SAR group would know what group you could tag along with. They must all be talking to one another right now.

I think for the moment anyone needs to arrive there with a totally self-sufficient group, including shelter, provisions and crew tools (jacks etc) at least, since lone unsupported individuals would be more of a burden.
 
fogtender said:
Sadly Al, there are so many dead, they are using mass graves that aren't even marked.

I would contact either the Red Cross, they have an office there... or did. IF so, you may be directed to the correct people to talk to.

I think the big drawback is that they don't have any heavy machinery there to start with.

If you hear of anything, let me know, I can drive just about anything.
Click to expand...
Will do ! I'm trying every door I can . I think for now They could use me in Taking care of the dead .I hate it but I can handle and do that job . I know what to do . I once said I would never do that again but many more will die if we do not get these people who we have loss buried .
 
Al, I don't know if they accept outside volunteers but you might try Fairfax County (Va) Fire and Rescue

They already have one team on site and another enroute.

Jim


Fairfax workers in Haiti rescue man from rubble; feds footing bill


<p>Your Browser DoesNot Support IFrames.</p>
Fairfax County rescue workers in Haiti using listening devices, cameras, saws and jackhammers pulled a man from the rubble early Thursday, said Dan Schmidt, spokesman for the county's fire and rescue department.
Members of the 72-person team, which landed at Port-au-Prince Airport on Wednesday, located and pulled a United Nations security officer from a "massive rubble pile," county officials said in a statement.
Schmidt said the man, who was Estonian, "was able to walk out on his own."
"That's a real morale booster for the members of the team," Schmidt said. "That's what the mission is: The mission is to save lives. And that's exactly what they were able to do."
The federal government -- specifically, the United States Agency for International Development -- is footing the Fairfax team's bill, Schmidt said.
Jeremy Lasich, spokesman for the county, said that Fairfax's contribution might not have been possible without the federal funding.
"In tight budget times, Fairfax County most likely would not be sending 70 people over to Haiti," he said. "We'd be more focused on Fairfax County government services."
Schmidt said 42 more workers from Virginia Task Force 1, Fairfax County's Urban Search and Rescue Team, are getting ready to join the 72 workers already there at the request of federal officials.
The 72-person team is made up mostly of Fairfax firefighters, but also includes non-county government civilians, such as doctors, dog handlers and structural engineers, Schmidt said.
Prince George's and Montgomery County officials said they also have rescue workers on standby if federal officials request their services.
"They're ready, and they can be mobilized and deployed within three hours from the moment they get the call," said Montgomery spokeswoman Donna Bigler.
 
California said:
Al, I wonder if some local (here) SAR group would know what group you could tag along with. They must all be talking to one another right now.

I think for the moment anyone needs to arrive there with a totally self-sufficient group, including shelter, provisions and crew tools (jacks etc) at least, since lone unsupported individuals would be more of a burden.
Click to expand...

I'll team up with who ever can use me . I know I have to go in with a group . My burial skills can be used now . Disease will be starting soon .
 
BigAl said:
I'm sending out information to every group I can think of . If anyone hears of anyone needing help please contact me here . I can leave anytime .
Click to expand...

You're probably more qualified and more needed than 99% of the people there. My info is via my wayward uncle who 'retired' at 35 and has been down in the Caribbean area for the last 20 years or so. He has 40 acres in Puerto Rico and co-owns something in the Dominican Rep. with some woman friend. I assume he's there from the odd messages I've received. Sounds really bad but not extremely widely spread out. Hispaniola isn't a large island but it sounds like there really isn't any damage on DR side. Most who need help only speak an odd Creole language or a form of French. I'm pretty sure he said that looting etc. is a bit worse than the media is letting on.

As far as getting there Al, I'm sure he said their airport is full and is basically out of fuel. So, no place to park planes and no fuel for them makes things tough except by boat. My take is that your only way to physically go there and help would be to make contacts via marine radios and see if you can catch a ride on some of the private boats making trips to help. I don't know for a fact, but I'd assume there would be several private boat captains donating their services.
 
Personally Handling the departed is not something a lot of people can do . You mentally have to block out what you are doing or it will tear you up inside . Thats where I think I could be used . These poor people already lost a lot of their family. Someone else, who is trained as I am , needs to prepare the decease so the surviving family members can have time to grieve and have time to rebuild their lives .
 
The Air Force is taking over the airport as I type and have finally gotten a lighting system working to allow round the clock operation. They need a bunch of grapple equipped excavators to help out in the recovery. Heavy equipment units from Army and Navy are moving in to clear roads and help set up supply posts. The aid that is already there is just starting to flow out and they need military support to control the crowds and stop the looting. Mass graves are being dug as speed in disposing of corpses is paramount to controlling disease. By tomorrow the U.S. military will have a better handle on all aspects of the situation. SAR units are coming from all over as well. They will all be needed.
 
BigAl said:
I am trained , I hold California state Contractors licenses in General Engineering and general Building . I am a certfied Equipment operator with local 3 operating engineers and I hold a valid license as a Funeral director . I have personally been on recovery and burial of many people who have decreased .Theres nothing I have not seen in death . I just want to do more than send money .
Click to expand...

I didn't mean that kind of training. They want you trained in all their procedures and policies. They don't want to be responsible for someone they don't know. Two different things.
 
I know there are canadian navy ships being sent with supplies and medical teams as well as canadian air force (yes, we do have one) transports. It's a terrible tragedy. Can't offer any suggestions on who to contact though to volunteer.
 
Thanks again to everyone . I guess its in the lords hands now . My wife and I just got signed up . Andy ,thank you so much for providing the information . God Bless :smile:
 
BigAl said:
Dear FF members , I need your help ASAP. Does anyone know if they need Equipt. Operators in Haitior who I can contact to find out ? .I can pretty much run any type of equipment . I hold Building contractors license and have a General Engineering license too. There is nothing dealing with construction that I cannot do including running large crews .

I am prepared to leave now if anyone knows how me and my wife can help these poor people . Donating money is not enough . We will pay our own way . I am very experienced living in the most remote/harsh conditions .If anyone has any information as to where I can apply and leave now please cotact me .
Allen Hutson
Click to expand...

Al, when Katrina hit our shores I was very much in the same position you were with my desire. I found that there were several local groups that were affiliated with groups that were ALREADY in the area and I had contacts who were ALREADY in the area. If I was you I would contact the RED CROSS, the SALVATION ARMY and UNICEF and some of the other groups. You will find that some area already there and working and could use the volunteers.

The thing you don't want to do is go there without a plan and resources. If you go there you need a place to stay, one of the above groups can provide that. If you go there you need something to do other than wanter around digging at random, one of the above groups will coordinate an effort.

In the case of Katrina I found that my best efforts were to stay at home and work with people who I knew on the ground already. I found out what they needed and I sent them PEOPLE and supplies that fit their needs. I knew people at a food warehouse, and the warehouse was damaged but the food was safe, ONE OF THE THOUSANDS of problems after Katrina was food distribution. Supplies could not get into the area from unaffected areas easily. Supplies inside the area were often buried. I arranged for a couple dozen fork lift drivers, logistics supervisors, terminal managers etc to go New Orleans. I had them down there in shifts for a couple weeks at a time, in groups of 4 to 8 people at a time. Their sole mission was to figure out a way to distribute the food and get that warehouse back up and running. Small mission but big problems. I had them rotating in/out of that warehouse for about 4 months until some of the original people could get back into the area after the evacuation. These guys not only were to get the warehouse put back together, doing things like patching the roof and rebuilding pallet racks, but they also had to clear roads for truck passage. So I set up a small foundation to get this done, had businesses from all around the US donate their employees, booked their airline travel, arranged for their entry into restricted areas, got them trailers to live in, etc. It worked out much better than anything I could have done had I gone down there.

Just something to think about.

But if you can find people, of particular skills, who can offer a set of expert skills or knowledge, then work with a charity/group/organization that is ALREADY there and in need of those folks, you may be better able to provide help from your desk/phone at home than by actually flying there.
 
Hi Al

I think this may answer some of your questions.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/01/14/us.haiti.airport/index.html?hpt=T2

Basically, I do not think there is sufficient equipment to operate at the moment. They are looking toward the ports to be the entry point for equipment and it is on it's way (I think). I am sure that some could be flown in on a C5A, but, I do not know if one can land at that airport.

With the military doing most of the leg work at the moment, you may be premature.

Andy
 
As the military gets better established I think you will see a large amount of immediate aid flown by chopper to areas that require road rebuild for truck transport. They will also be flying combat engineer equipment to work at the port as long term it is key to getting the volume of aid delivered. It is a logistic nightmare as they were very weak on much of the infrastructure before the quake hit. Water treatment will be another major priority and will require entire systems built from scratch. The carrier on station has a lot of these capabilities but cant enter the port so everything will be ferried by chopper. It is a race against the clock for a lot of things all at once.
 
Apparently the looting my uncle said was really bad has finally started getting the attention of the media. The whole flotilla he was part of left after they were repeatedly attacked at port and having to resort to fighting back to get out. I'd say it's best handled by the military from the patchwork picture I'm receiving.
 
I should hear something next week according to the email I recieved . After setting up temp housing ,I think they will have to concentrate on water and sewer reconstruction .The basics of life . Its going to take years to put it all together .
I am currently getting a back pack of personal items put together so i'll be ready when I get the call .My wife is worried they will not take her . We are hoping we can go in together . I'll keep you folks updated as I know more .
Allen
 
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