International response

[nadinbrzezinski]

so you guys are wondering, what is the world doing?

Well there are teams going or on alert from all over, France, Venezuela, Mexico, the UK just for starters...

So there IS a response...

It is also obvious at this point, that for logistical and communications reasons, the US is taking lead for some of this, and the UN for the rest.

[tekisui]

1. The US Embassy in Haiti seems to be the only governmental

building left standing. The presidential palace, the parliament, schools, hospitals and police stations have fallen.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Did not know the US Embassy was a Haitian government building

for the record the Mexican Embassy is also up and running...

[paulsby]

6. he/she didn't say *haitian* government building

he said GOVERNMENT building. which is what an embassy is.

[HeresyLives]

2. Other countries have arrived in Haiti with aid,

they're not just on alert.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Of course, but the point of this is that when I say alert is

activated... and either en route or close to landing, Sorry bad habit from my days doing this.

[polly7]

5. Yes, many other countries have taken it upon themselves to

help, Canada's first DART team who arrived there this morning I believe. I don't see them waiting around for anyone to lead them, they're just trying to act quickly and get over there. As it should be.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Actually everybody was waiting for one little thing

before actually landing. a tower. That was provided by a US Cutter.

They also had to wait for something else before launching, authorization from the Haitian government. Yes there is red tape in this too.

[HeresyLives]

17. Canadians landed this morning.

I don't know where you think all these problems are coming from. Are there brownie points for being the first ones there or what?

We have a DART team especially for such situations.

'So far, the government has sent a C-130 Hercules plane with medics, firefighters, a search and rescue and reconnaissance team. It left just after 9 a.m. ET. Their job is to assess the needs of the devastated country. They have also brought along some basic supplies and equipment for extracting people.

The official said a C-17 (a huge cargo plane) will likely follow as well as a Navy ship with a helicopter and more supplies, including Canadian Forces engineers.'

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/cabinet-huddles-amid-grim-reports-from-haiti/article1429479/


Everybody is pitching in. Do Americans think they're the only ones expected to help?

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Yes, but everybody was waiting for Air Traffic

because that air space has gotten a tad crowded, and if you knew me, you'd know better than to make that statement. I did this for real mind you, with the MEXICAN RED CROSS. I know that Americans are not the ONLY ONES with the capacity. IN fact, due to two wars... the American Response Capacity is GREATLY DEGRADED.

But yes, the canucks, for technical reasons, had to wait for Air Traffic to get back on line. It is just the way it is in a disaster. I am talking from experience here, and the closest to the scene to take on that role for OTHER reasons, was USCG Cutter.

Now some other people do believe Americans are the only ones that can do this... and I suspect they never done this, nor left the country...

[HeresyLives]

26. I'm mystified by the problem here.

Everyone is pitching in, as they always do in these situations.

And since Anderson Cooper nearly got wiped out in an air crash, it sounds unlikely that any air traffic control was in effect by anybody.

Survival and medical teams land in warzones and disaster areas without help all the time, it's what they do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Anderson cooper's little mischief is your example

disaster teams land in warzones yes, but you do not have that many aircraft usually entering the same air space. Also they land with some form of ground control most of the time.

This is a problem of TOO MANY aircraft, in a small area that might, just might, collide with each other compounding the problems.

That is why they need air traffic control.

Now once the USCG started that... find, everybody gets on an approach vector and land.

The problem is not the planes, but the number of them. Overnight not just Canada but many other countries launched rescue missions.

[HeresyLives]

28. It was one I thought you'd be familiar with.

I'm still mystified by your insistence no one could land without the Americans. People do it all the time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. If it was the canadians doing Air Traffic Control would it be better?

This is just SOP in a situation like this. Reading in a Mexican Paper, that airport is right now handling about two thirds the traffic for Mexico City Airport. That is a LOT of planes.

I personally don't care who does Air Traffic... just that SOMEBODY does. If the tower's electronics were not damaged they would be the ones doing it.

[HeresyLives]

36. No, it's just this strange obsession you have

with air traffic control, when it wasn't necessary in the first place.

[malaise]

16. Correct - several countries' reps have already arrived

and they're already working

[Posteritatis]

35. the Halifax and the Ville de Quebec are apparently leaving for Haiti tomorrow. (nt)

[cali]

8. Logistics and communications are not the only reasons that the U.Sl

is taking the lead. We have greater resources and assets to employ.

[polly7]

9. The 'world' is helping.

Not going to fight with you over something so silly, but many nations have 'great resources and assets' and no problem using them. Why is everything a contest, even giving aid in a time of desperation for milions? Besides, the buried 70 year old won't care what colour uniform the person was in who dug them out.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. They might take issue with the language

I mean giving instructions when you do not talk the local lingo can be a problem.

[HeresyLives]

19. Canadians also speak French,

so it shouldn't be a problem.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Yeah but they don't speak creole

Way back machine to the days I started doing EMS in Mexico. I speak Spanish, I grew up with Spanish. I had to learn the street lingo to effectively communicate with patients. That can be an issue... not a large one, but a small one.

Trust me, people don't care when you pull them out though.

[HeresyLives]

24. Many of them do.

Our head of state is from Haiti, and there are thousands of Haitians here.

[cali]

12. good grief. I'm not dissing your country or any other country that's providing

assistance. I'm speaking factually. I'm not in the least bit interested in making this a contest. YOU certainly are judging from your defensive posts.

[polly7]

15. No. I just responded to yours in kind. nt.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Actually if I am very technical about it the US is not taking lead

the UN is...

As to resources and assets, no we don't... you heard of Iraq and Afghanistan? A lot of our assets are stuck over there.

The US is taking lead in things like oh flight control... see Tower, but the UN is actually in charge very technically speaking. We are working, through USAID, WITH the UN.

We are sending two DMATS... Canada already had one on the ground... Mexican DMAT teams are coming in (different names, same function)... and I could go on.

I know I should be going USA... but no I am going WORLD!!!!

[polly7]

14. Me too, this is a time for the world to come together.

I wish I could go myself. My heart aches for these people, the pictures are just awful.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. I know better, I have the skills

I used to do this for real... but medical issues would make me more of a liability than an asset.

Give money... that supplies the logistics train for the experts to go.

[polly7]

25. I still do work in EMS ..... just wishful thinking I could go though.

But, I did send my donation last night thanks to some kind soul who posted here to an organization that sounds great.

[Texasgal]

13. Just from what I can see

this is just an epic situation.

Coordinating rescue, aid and food will be difficult to do. I think everyone is doing a fine job considering the shear magnitude of this tragedy!

Thank goodness for First Responders, they have a hell of a job to do!

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. OAS emergency meeting comming, No has not been announced

but I am betting on it.

[Texasgal]

22. ANA just put out an email

Disaster Response in Haiti

01/13/10
In the wake of the devastation in Haiti, the American Nurses Association (ANA) would like to convey our deepest sympathies to those who have suffered incalculable losses. For nurses who have expressed an interest helping with the relief and recovery efforts, ANA encourages anyone interested in becoming a first responder to pre-register with one of the many disaster registries and response organizations that already exist. These groups ensure that volunteers will have access to training and will be utilized according to the appropriate response plans.

Please visit the Volunteer Now page on NursingWorld to learn more about how to become an emergency first responder.

If you wish to make a contribution to relief efforts please visit U.S. Dept of State Official Blog site at: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/disaster_haiti for more information.


Good for them! I love it when my dues actually DO something!!! LOL!!!

[lunatica]

30. When the leadership is cut out of Haiti

It's got to be incredibly difficult to organize aid to a country. Who asks for it? Who does it get offered to? Countries can't just send aid without coordination and planning. And organizations like the UN are unable to call on dead members to help the situation so they have to deploy new troops or take them out of one country to send them to another. The Red Cross doesn't have it's organization up and running on the island. Hospitals are destroyed, personnel are dead. The very people who help during these times are actually helpless themselves and having to recover from their own losses just to start helping everyone else.

Infrastructure is very unstable and unsafe for all kinds of transportation. People are literally putting their lives on the line without inspectors to check out structures. The airport is damaged. The ports are probably also damaged.

I remember it took days after the Loma Prieta earthquake for officials to inspect the hundreds of miles of freeways, overpasses, bridges and underpasses as well as go to all the houses and buildings that were damaged so they could inspect them for the level of damage.

It's simply not easy to give aid when there's very bad communication and no prospect of electricity or water. Why anyone thinks the world is just sitting back doing nothing is not thinking disasters and their aftermath through.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. Red tape is mostly gone, and aid is pouring in

as to the rest, the first 72 hours is search and rescue, evaluation will take upwards of two years.

[Baclava]

32. How long before Hugo Chavez accuses us of spreading that evil capitalism and taking over another cou

There....



that should heat things up

[anonymous171]

33. The US government was obviously using their Earthquake weapons again

[Baclava]

34. You can't snap your fingers and make things all better

My 3rd generation aluminium foil hat prevents me from seeing any conspiracies - this will take time.