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Port Au Prince, Haiti Earthquake
Alert Level:
(T) Transition
Jan 12, 2010

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Port Au Prince – On January 12, 2010, a major 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti on Tuesday, collapsing buildings in the capital Port-au-Prince and burying residents under rubble.

The epicenter of the quake was located inland, only 10 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince and was very shallow at a depth of only 6.2 miles. It prompted a tsunami watch for parts the Caribbean, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on Tuesday, but the watch was canceled a few hours later.

With the light of day on Wednesday January 13, 2010, the extent of the devastation has become evident. Many official estimates are placing probable deaths well over 100,000 people. IDRN partners have activated response plans and the IDRN will continue to facilitate collaborative response initiatives.

Updates

U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo issued the following Warden Message on February 26:

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following Warden Message to alert Americans to occasional violence directed at vehicular traffic traveling to and from Haiti.

U.S. Citizens travelling to and from Haiti through the Dominican Republic have reported incidents of violence near the Haitian border on route 44 between Barahona and Jaquimeyes. Reports indicate that a group of persons attired in paramilitary clothing placed tires in the middle of the road and set them on fire to form a makeshift blockade, forcing passing vehicles to slow down or stop. Armed gunmen fired shots and threw rocks at vehicles that failed to stop for the blockade. Additionally, in at least one incident, men with guns and machetes briefly detained American citizens travelling through the area.

The U.S. Embassy would like to remind American citizens travelling in the Dominican Republic within an hour of the Haitian border to be aware of these reports and to exercise extreme caution in possibly volatile areas. Citizens should check local news reports, U.S. Embassy Warden Messages, and travel advisories before embarking on a trip to the areas near the border with Haiti. Citizens are also reminded to travel in groups during daylight hours and use caution at all times. Drivers who encounter roadblocks are encouraged to stop a significant distance away, drive in reverse or turn around, and drive to the nearest town to report the blockade to local authorities. Drivers should do their best to leave the danger zone and get to safety.

The U.S. Embassy will update this warden message if new information becomes available. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at travelregistration.state.gov.
Posted Mar 02, 2010
The IDRN played a huge role in helping the Haitian people. Thanks to all of you who are participating through conference calls and on the virtual Emergency Coordination Center. If you are still looking for support for operations in Haiti, contact the Global Information Center. If you would like to share how the IDRN, or the Starfish Community helped in the your organization's Haiti projects, or would like to offer suggestions on ways we can improve, please take a second to post those thoughts to StarfishCommunity.net.
Posted Feb 19, 2010
Check out the grassroots fundraising effort for IDRN efforts in HAITI. This connection has been developing via IDRN friends who want to help! Go to www.RaceAgainstTimeHaiti.org to see more!
Posted Jan 27, 2010
The IDRN's move to Level 4 over the weekend means that much more operational data will be flowing through the IDRN.info website with plans for individual access being granted midday 1/18/2010.
Posted Jan 18, 2010
IDRN members who want to collaborate in the Haiti Earthquake response should go to www.StarfishCommunity.net to connect with other IDRN members. Updated Spot Reports will be posted here, but the Starfish Community forums are better suited to host the back and forth conversation. To post information to the Starfish Community, you will need a username and password. If you do not have a username and password, you can register here.
Posted Jan 13, 2010