Having lived in Los Angeles since 1969, I am no stranger to earthquakes. I remember in the Sylmar quake of 1971, bricks poured down from a hitherto unknown walled-in chimney in my bedroom. It was about six AM and I was sleeping and the pile of flying bricks missed me by about two feet. One bedroom wall fell out, exposing us to the street from the second floor. A woman friend of ours, who had just arrived from New York with her family and was staying with us, woke up screaming, grabbed her children and took the first plane out, never, to my knowledge, ever to return to Los Angeles again.
Since that Sylmar quake I have had healthy respect for shakers. And it was only 6.7 on the Richter scale. Haiti was 7.0. Since Richter is a base-10 logarithmic scale, God knows what that would feel like. I don’t want to know. But watching the footage on television you get some sense of it, even if the videographers go for the most devastated parts. It’s bad.
On Greta von Susteren I listened to Bill Clinton do his plea for aid money. Whatever feelings one has about Clinton, he does this well. He is good at sound empathic. But in any case this is not about him. I was happy to hear they had made it easy to give money – by texting 20222, ten dollars gets charged to your account to help with relief. I’m going to do it a few times. I’m sure many of you will too. Or find other ways. Feel free to leave those here. This one doesn’t take much thinking.
While the Richter scale is a base 10 log scale, each unit corresponds to a factor of 31.6 in terms of destructive power. So a 7.0 earthquake is 10 times as destructive as a 6.7 earthquake. Wikipedia has a very nice article on the Richter scale and its replacement.
A few years ago, a hurricane in NC devastated poor, rural communities in that state. The Governor appealed on TV for assistance. A fund was established. After about 18 months, that fund had not been distributed completely.
The Salvation Army had teams, food, water, shelter on the scene in hours. They worked themselves, often for a pittance, and brought what many others donated. Immediate help.
Thanks to Mr Clinton for feeling good about himself. The Salvation Army is ALREADY there. Send THEM the money. They’ll use it today.
Like his politics or not, kudos to Clinton for doing this. I recall that he and George H. Bush appeared together in commercials asking for donations a few years ago, I think for Asian Tsunami relief. It would be nice to see him to a spot with George W. for Haiti.
Do what you can and give what you can, folks. I don’t think the world has seen a death toll from a quake like we’re going to see from this in a long, long time.
Permit me to champion the Salvation Army, too. They are better at this than any other organization.
I read somewhere today that Obama has called GW Bush asking him to join up with Clinton on aid for Haiti, basically on the Clinton/GHW Bush model regarding the tsunami aid effort a few years ago.
If this is true, cudos to Obama.
However, can Obama afford to “rehabilitate” W’s reputation?
On what political ground can Obama stand if not the consistent and perpetual denigration and disrespect of Bush 43?
Rascalfair, you are so right. Salvation Army is the best to give to. It can be done online using charge card. Did it yesterday.
I also understand that BO has asked Bush Sr. to help in the aid hunt. At least one thing right in a year.
According to Chuck Todd, MSNBC, it is Bush Jr. being tapped for the team-up with Bill Clinton.
Interesting that the best immediate hope for Haiti rests with the US military. NGO’s, the UN, etc. may eventually help out, but the emergency will be handled by the forces castigated by so many in the world. Imagine what would happen to Haiti if we didn’t have this ability or the will to use it.
see also
http://www.gormogons.com/2010/01/facts-to-ruin-hippies-day.html
It is a point worth repeating (and I repeat it constantly, thank you very much), that the U.S.Military is the only organization existing with the logistical capability and reach to deal with catastrophes of this scale.
All of those NGO’s and other international groups eventually have to rely on our Air Force and Navy to move their people and supplies to a Haiti.
Everyone should be very cautious about who and how they donate money for any disaster relief the world over. There is too much corruption among not only the leaders of nations like Haiti, but also many “charitable” organizations. Salvation Army at least is a relatively safe bet. After 9/11, even the Red Cross doesnt get a pass.