Haiti Relief: Report from USNS Comfort Volunteer
The below was written by American Red Cross volunteer Wilfrid from the Miami Chapter. He’s aboard the USNS Comfort providing assistance to Haiti.
Was crazy the trip from Miami to Guantanamo, then to airport p-au-p, then helicopter to the Navy ship. Full military operation. I have seen the hard work. So far about 48hrs without sleeping. We’ll talk another day…
Arrival to Guantanamo 3:35pm
Ready to fly from Guantanamo to Haiti Airport 2:15am.
Arrival in airport Haiti; 3:10 AM. Eat and drink then, lay down on the grass until morning. 7:50AM. we felt an aftershock (1sec). A lot of plans and moving…
Some of the team stayed at Guantanamo the whole night (w/ Dee). Took the helicopter to the USNS comfort by 3:15 pm and arrive at 3:30pm – while the team in Guantanamo went straight to the USNS by 12:00 PM.
The team is in the dining area with all the other Corps. An immense mass care operation. The ship can provide about 7000 hot meals. We had a meal and went to rest for tomorrow.
Sleeping area! We all got a chance to shower. Then, Saturday is in. 5:30 AM get ready for breakfast at 6:00 AM. I became a call center with my phone for many of the team. The rush started not too late after our lunch.
In the meeting after breakfast!
Filed under: Disaster Response, International, SAF
Try to get the word out to whomever can use this info… Use cargo containers instead of tents. (if possible to set up somewhere)
Thank you for all you do!! Praying for Haiti and everyone that is there. Haitians are awesome so is the Red Cross!
Wow! Thank you for sharing this information – it really helps to understand all of the logistics involved in the deployment and shows what great work Red Cross people are out there doing at this critical time. Please keep sharing (when time allows)!
God bless you. What can I do to assist from the US side of the world (can’t give $$ but maybe there is soemthing else I can do)?
WOW. Good luck and God bless!
Hang in there and keep up the great work, we are all proud of you here in DC!!
HI AMERICAN RED CROSS,
Its very encouragement work in Haiti by ARC, thanks to you! I have very basic integrity plan for education, health-care that will help child and women!
thanking you