We are very saddened to hear of the damage and lives lost from the earthquake in Haiti early this week. There has been a huge response from you inquiring how you can help and how our chapter is involved with the relief efforts. Thank you for everyone’s concern.
Our project is located in Corail Lamothe, about 30 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince. We have not heard directly from the community but from the earthquake maps it appears they experienced some severe activity in the area. We have however heard from our NGO partners in Port-au-Prince. They are all physically ok and are very busy with relief efforts.
As you may or may not know we have a Corail Lamothe team member from Haiti who has yet to hear from his family in Port-au-Prince. The member and his wife (who is a nurse) would like to return to Haiti to assist with relief efforts. Our member has the opportunity to travel back with our partner NGO, HERO, Health and Education Relief Organization. If you are interested in assisting with the Haiti relief effort, our chapter recommends supporting HERO with an online donation.
All donations will go 100% to the relief work. Please see http://www.herononprofit.org/waystodonate.aspx?id=donate# for donation information. Below is an update of HERO’s efforts in Haiti.
We are also considering collecting food donations and other supplies. More details to come on these activities.
Thank you for your support of our chapter and HERO. Please contact me or Bruce Goddard, P.E., with any specific questions.
Brooksie Barton
EWB-USA SCFL President
EWB-USA Florida State Representative
Let me update you on HERO's relief efforts. We are trying to get a C130 out of Dobbins ARB here in Marietta to fly into the Jacmel airport. Jacmel is 25 mile south southwest from Port au Prince. A colonel is working on this. Also, the purchasing VP for Wellstar is getting together meds and supplies and hopefully we can take these with us. Someone has donated two motorcycles so we can get to the more remote areas around Jacmel. Jacmel is the 3rd or 4th largestcity in Haiti andwas severely hit bythe earthquake. Many buildings destroyed and more that 1,000 dead. We have medical professional volunteers willing to go but could use more (hint). We need to take water purification equipment/tablets and food. So pass the word for volunteers and donations. All donations will go 100% to the relief effort and are tax deductible as we are a 501(c)(3). We will keep you informed on our effortson putting all this together. Port au Prince airport is extremely busy now with no commercial flights allowed and the ground filled with planes. Inquires can be made to this email address or they can call my cell at 678-523-3384. HERO has three EWB projects we are working on: one with UCF, one with SCFEWB Professional and one with Atlanta Professional. We are acting as the NGO. Since I am a Structural P.E., I also need to go to access building damage and safety.
Bruce Goddard, P.E.
VP, HERO
www.herononprofit.org
Engineers Without Borders - USA (EWB-USA) is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life. This partnership involves the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineers and engineering students.
The EWB-SCFL Chapter was founded in 2007 in an effort to provide South and Central Florida professionals with an opportunity to participate and actively give back to the worldwide community through EWB's humanitarian efforts. The Chapter’s membership has quickly grown to over 50 professionals with diverse backgrounds ranging from engineering to healthcare. The Chapter is both actively seeking and actively participating in humanitarian projects in Central America, the Caribbean, and further abroad. The Chapter members also provide mentoring and project guidance to local college and university EWB Chapters.
To learn more about EWB’s history, mission and vision please visit the national website at www.ewb-usa.org.