 Brian Hoyer, pictured outside the tent he called home on the tarmac at Port-au-Prince Airport. Today began with a shot of adrenaline... Brian Hoyer blogs from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he is part of AmeriCares Emergency Relief team. Brian is a veteran disaster relief worker and has supported AmeriCares responses to Hurricane Katrina, civil conflict in Uganda and the 2008 China earthquake. Here is his latest post from the field.
Today began with a shot of adrenaline – a 6.1 magnitude aftershock rocked Port-au-Prince at 6 A.M. and abruptly woke the team from sleep. Even in the early morning hours, the air outside was already heavy and streets buzzed with activity throughout the ravaged city. The team immediately began mapping out the day - dividing responsibilities, duties, and goals. Organization and clarity are the keys to getting tasks accomplished amid the chaos that has overtaken the city. I am constantly in awe of the bravery demonstrated by all the Haitians we meet and work with. I find the people of Haiti’s strength to be the most motivating part of my overwhelming day. The dedication of the Haitian people reminds me that providing help – and possibly offering some small amount of comfort – to survivors is the most basic and important reason for why we are here. As our team prepares to head out for another day on the frontlines of Port-au-Prince, today’s goal, just as yesterday’s was and tomorrow’s will be, remains to get the right help to the right place at the right time. Extensive Medical Needs on the Ground Brian Hoyer 01/21/10Yesterday we traveled about 15 miles from Port-au-Prince to the town of Leogane where I’d estimate 80-90% of the buildings were destroyed. As we drove to the clinic, we picked up the sickest patients along the way. When our crew of aid workers, volunteers and patients arrived, we found it was a few tarps stretch between buildings of a quake-damaged nursing school. Read More »
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