Archive for January 16th, 2010

Thanks to online social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and other new media like  YouTube and Flickr, a flood of information has come out of Haiti and spread throughout the world . Without these online portals, the collapse of Haiti’s infrastructure would have prevented the rest of the world from readily accessing powerful first hand photos, videos, and updates as we are able to now. Not only would we as outsiders be left in the dark, but who knows how much worse off Haiti would have been without being able to amplify their plea for help when conventional means of communication and transportation are destroyed or cut off within their country.

The Nation published an editorial pointing to the value of social media specifically in the case of the earthquake that hit Haiti. The article says:

“Thanks to social media, the world is responding in a new way. News groups are counting on Facebook and Twitter updates to get immediate pictures of what happened. Relief efforts, collective prayers and communications have been coordinated in cyberspace. Relatives and friends and citizen reporters have been using the new means of communications to get stories out of the disaster zone.

Twitter posts appeared within seconds of the quake, while photos emerged on Twitpic and Flickr almost instantaneously. Videos soon appeared on YouTube. Text message donations flooded charities in Canada. Messages of condolences were everywhere on the Internet. From concrete relief efforts to gestures of sympathy, the world is reacting through the new social means of global communications. This is despite the fact that only 10 per cent of Haiti’s 9 million have access to the Internet.”

The article also mentions The Salvation Army’s online presence throughout our disaster relief efforts and mentions Bob Poff, Director of Disaster Services in Haiti:

“Port-au-Prince Salvation Army director Bob Poff has been using Facebook and Skype to communicate with teams on the ground, and back in the US. While some may have had their religious faith shaken by the quake, Poff wrote: “Thank God for Facebook.”

Poff and other Salvation Army personnel in Haiti  regularly posts photos, videos, and personal accounts of their efforts in Port-au-Prince on www.salvationarmyhaiti.org and their Facebook account. Yves Montoban, a Salvation Army staff person working in Haiti, has also been posting information frequently to his Facebook account.

For more information on what The Salvation Army is doing in Haiti, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org. You can also follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

To donate directly to the Salvation Army’s Haiti relief efforts , visit our secure online donations page. You can also donate by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, texting ‘HAITI’ to 52000, or sending a check or money order to: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 (*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*).

A beautiful baby girl was delivered at The Salvation Army clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti! She is the first baby to be born in the area following the tragic earthquake. What wonderful proof that amidst much death and destruction, there is also new life!

More photos are also available on Facebook from Yves Montoban, a Salvation Army staff person working in Port-au-Prince who has been uploading photos and videos of the events he has witnessed firsthand of the earthquake and events following.

Thank you to all our Salvation Army personnel and relief workers who are working tirelessly to help those struggling in the wake of this week’s tragic events. This blessing of new life in the community is no doubt a sign of hope and source of encouragement for everyone!

For more information on what The Salvation Army is doing in Haiti, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or The Salvation Army Haiti at www.salvationarmyhaiti.org. You can also follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

How to Donate:

To donate directly to the Salvation Army’s Haiti relief efforts , visit our secure online donations page. You can also donate by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, texting ‘HAITI’ to 52000, or sending a check or money order to: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 (*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*).

The Salvation Army appreciates the support of FedEx — which has generously donated $100,000 to support our relief efforts in Haiti. The funds will help The Salvation Army to deliver needed water, food and medical supplies directly to earthquake survivors. The Salvation Army has a long-standing partnership with FedEx.

In 2008, FedEx donated 11 Disaster Response Units (DRUs), emergency response materials and a grant to train Salvation Army emergency response personnel in countries around the world. The DRUs are equipped with the latest equipment and technology and can help feed around 1,500 people per day during a disaster.

If you would like to donate directly to the Salvation Army’s Haiti relief efforts , visit our secure online donations page. You can also donate by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, texting ‘HAITI’ to 52000, or sending a check or money order to: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 (*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*).

Bob Poff, The Salvation Army’s Director of Disaster Services for Haiti, spoke about the devastation that rescue operations are finding in the wake of the devastating earthquake. Bob and his wife Vicki were in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake struck and have been helping with the relief effort amid the chaos.

Read previous posts on Bob Poff:

Earthquake Gets Personal for Salvation Army Family;

MSNBC Interview: The Salvation Army’s Bob Poff Chokes Up Discussing Earthquake Aftermath;

Devastation in Haiti

For more information on what The Salvation Army is doing in Haiti, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or The Salvation Army Haiti at www.salvationarmyhaiti.org. You can also follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

How to Donate:

To donate directly to the Salvation Army’s Haiti relief efforts , visit our secure online donations page. You can also donate by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, texting ‘HAITI’ to 52000, or sending a check or money order to: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 (*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*).

Two charter planes carried more Salvation Army personnel and cargo to Haiti’s disaster zone Friday and supplies are being distributed now on a limited basis.

Photos of the latest team led by Major Busroe can be viewed here:  Picasa Web Album: The Salvation Army Departs. These were taken as they departed Ft. Lauderdale for Haiti early Friday morning.

Major Busroe’s team is in addition to Major Louden’s initial assessment team that landed in Cape Haitien yesterday and drove eight hours to Port-au-Prince.

Major Louden and Salvation Army planes will be returning to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, this morning to restock and deliver more personnel and supplies as soon as possible. Two Haitian women who were working as missionaries and lost their homes are also on board the plane to will meet up with family in south Florida.

For more information on what The Salvation Army is doing in Haiti, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or The Salvation Army Haiti at www.salvationarmyhaiti.org. You can also follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

How to Donate:

To donate directly to the Salvation Army’s Haiti relief efforts , visit our secure online donations page. You can also donate by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, texting ‘HAITI’ to 52000, or sending a check or money order to: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 (*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*).