Haiti Earthquake Resources and Opportunities to Help

Governor Patrick and his administration have been working with the federal government and our local partners to determine what we can do to assist our vibrant Haitian community during this very tragic time. The federal government is working to identify the specific needs that exist in Haiti right now and cautioned against uncoordinated individual state-led responses.

USAID has been named the lead organization in coordinating disaster relief efforts and the American Red Cross is currently in Haiti doing a needs-assessment. They will be back in touch with us on how we can best assist in the relief efforts.

The federal priorities on the ground right now are currently search and rescue, medical assistance, care for the injured, water, sanitation and shelter.  The state has established an emergency operations center at MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency) headquarters where state, local and community-based organizations are coordinating efforts.  MEMA is giving regular updates about the situation on Twitter (www.twitter.com/MassEMA).

If you have questions or need help:

• Mass211 is available for residents to call with any questions they may have.

• Those trying to reach U.S. residents living or traveling in Haiti can contact the U.S. State Department’s Office of Oversees Citizen Services toll-free at 888-407-4747 (this line is experiencing a high volume of calls at this time, so please be patient).

• The Red Cross has also established a website where people looking to find out about family or friends in Haiti can submit information to personnel on the ground in Haiti at www.icrc.org/familylinks

If you want to help:

• Cash donations are the most efficient and effective way to help the relief effort in Haiti right now. To donate, visit the American Red Cross’ website at www.redcross.org.  You can also text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given to the Red Cross relief efforts

• Those looking to donate time or supplies should contact the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) at 703-276-1914, or visit them online at www.cidi.org

Comments

[Michele Jumelle]

Thanks for your efforts regarding the January Earthquake. We, in Haiti, appreciate it very much. My question is the following: Have the Massachussets State considered a tuition relief for Haitian students who pay international student tuition fees in community colleges ? That would be a great relief for we, Haitian parents, who have suffered severe material and human losses and have to face very difficult times in Haiti, while wanting our kids to continue to receive education in the States.

[Josie Patterson]

A number of friends and I would like to know what the state of MA is doing/can do to save the lives of orphans in Haiti.
Gov. Rendell in PA has helped; think of the many lives and futures we could affect if all the U.S. Governor's did the same. Please let me know how we can best advocate to get the orphans out of Haiti - even if temporarily so we can save lives of children who have no one and whose orphanages have been destroyed.
From http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/22239495/detail.html

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a statement shortly after 7 p.m. indicating that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, in coordination with the Department of State, announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need as part of the U.S. government's ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week's earthquake.

"We are committed to doing everything we can to help reunite families in Haiti during this very difficult time," Napolitano said. "While we remain focused on family reunification in Haiti, authorizing the use of humanitarian parole for orphans who are eligible for adoption in the United States will allow them to receive the care they need here."

[Ryan Gray]

Can someone PLEASE provide an email address? The website is overloaded; the phone is busy. What I'm looking for is a place (church? city hall?) in the Greater Boston area that will take donations of supplies, toiletries, etc. I am able to get a LOT of this stuff from my workplace and neighbors, etc. Please, PLEASE, get some information published! Thanks!!
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Brad Blake, Office of the Governor, response:

Ryan - Thanks for your comment. We're providing the most updated information we have right now. Obviously there are a lot of people trying to help and donate which is great (and likely overwhelming that site right now). I'm sure if there were an email address, it would be just as overwhelmed. I would say to keep trying the Red Cross and we'll certainly update our blog as we have more information.

However, you might find this information helpful. Seems they need cash donations right now much more than supplies (from the Center for International Disaster Information):

"Financial contributions allow professional relief organizations to purchase exactly what is most urgently needed by disaster victims and to pay for the transportation necessary to distribute those supplies. Unlike in-kind donations, cash donations entail no transportation cost. In addition, cash donations allow relief supplies to be purchased at locations as near to the disaster site as possible. Supplies, particularly food, can almost always be purchased locally - even in famine situations. This approach has the triple advantage of stimulating local economies (providing employment, generating cash flow), ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs. Cash contributions to established legitimate relief agencies are always considerably more beneficial than the donation of commodities."